Good potting medium for vanda in West Virginia

[kanikedude03]

I just ordered 2 vandas, and i was just wondering if vanda care is similar to other types of orchids. Currently, i have cattleyas, a cymbidium, oncidiums, dendrobiums, and a few phalaenopsis and all of them are doing well. I water them every 3-4 days and use the recommended dosage of fertilizer (Sunbulb's Better-Gro Orchid Plus) almost every watering. Should i expect pretty much the same methods will work for vandas? I'm thinking about potting them in Better-Gro special orchid mix in a clay pot. I'm a little bit worried about what i should use to pot these since i've read that they need a lot of humidity and a lot of people have trouble growing them. Please note that i keep fans running all of the time in order to increase air cirulation (don't know if that would make a difference). I would like to recieve input from the experts here, because i know that some of you have dealt with these things first hand and know what's best. Thanks for your time.

[Buds!]

Hi,
You could always try growing vandas in vases.
Vandas in Glass Vases
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...da-blooms.html
This method increases humidity and there is no guessing in 'when' to water. My fan is also on 24/7.
Other may want to recommend their favourite growing medium.
Cheers,
Juliet

[JennS]

The glass vase method is an option, but for your first vandas, I would recommend growing them in baskets, bare root because then you can see everything going on with their roots and get to konw them better. That may sound a bit funny, but that is how i look at it. They like to dry out between waterings, so I would be concerned of overwatering with the glass vase method at first.

You will probably be able to keep them outside for about half the year in West VA, so I think the baskets would be great for that. It might be a bit trickier if you bring them indoors, but I think it would be worth it. You can add spaghnum moss to the baskets to keep up humidity. Also, water early every morning with room temp water (in winter maybe every other day if they are inside). Decrease watering as it gets colder, but keep them frequently watered, more often then the potted plants.

[kanikedude03]

Well the only thing is they are probably going to be indoors from the time I get them until next spring because it's already starting to get cooler here of the evenings and mornings. As a side note, right now i have a cattleya in a wooden basket with spaghnum moss and I must say that it is growing nicely. It's roots are connected to the wood now and it does very well indoors. But the general opinion that i seem to be getting here is that it wouldn't be best to pot it in something such as a clay pot with a hole in the bottom and use a bark based bigger chunked medium. Is that safe to say that it's not a gread idea?

[kanikedude03]

JennS - do you think a plastic basket or wooden basket would be best?

[JennS]

I think it depends on the size of the vanda. I prefer to start them in a 4" plastic basket, but that is more for cost then anything. Then, I like to move them into a 6" wooden basket when they are large enough by just placing the old basket inside and securing it to the new basket. If you soak the vanda for 15-30 minutes before hand the roots will be much more workable.

[JennS]

Sorry, I just noticed your other post. I would go ahead and shoot for the wooden basket then if your catt is liking it. My vandas have attached themselves to the wooden baskets quite quickly and seem very happy. I think they look nicer too. If you ordered blooming size vandas then you could probably just start with the 6" wooden basket right off. The octagon shaped ones are nice too, adds another look instead of all square.

I honestly, have only ever tried growing seedling vandas in pots w/bark and spag, and I think they are happier now being in baskets with just a little spag until they are more established. I use the spag to kind of anchor them a bit (and sometimes twist ties or plant tape or whatever that stuff is called) and it helps them seem to get established a bit faster.

[kanikedude03]

These plants have previously bloomed, so the 6" ones should work.

[Uechi]

Vandas like lots of water and grow all year round. Lots of water can mean root rot unless your media is free draining or even better non existent. I grow mine in wooden and plastic baskets with no media except a little coconut fiber. I have found that the roots actually appear to seek out the fiber. They attached themselves quite well to baskets and as long as you feed them and water them your good to go.

[JennS]

I agree with Uechi!