Saving Grandad's Orchids

[poppy86orchids]

Dear anyone who can help!

I am completely new to Orchids. I used to sit and admire my grandad's orchids, even brought him one. He passed away suddenly in August, and I have been given a number of his orchids. I only wished I had asked him how to keep them.
The one causing me the most trouble is the Vanda Blue Magic (though its purple, not blue at all!). My mother decided to pot it, but I quickly removed it after reading that they do not tolerate their roots confined. I have put a plastic mesh pot upside down in another larger pot and I mist it daily. The leaves look very green and strong but the stem has turned brown and I've lost all flowers. A friend told me it only flowers once, discard it. But someone else told me to cut it to 3cm from the base...
I am so confused!
Can someone point me in the right direction for help! I have put it in a sunny position. ALso upon reading your very informative posts to others, I wonder if a UV light will help it.
Any help will be greatly received. I'd hate to lose my grandad's plants.

[Lagoon]

Hi poppy86orchids ~ Welcome to the forum

I'm not going to give you any advice about you're Vanda as I don't grow these.
I just wanted to say HI and let you know the others who can help will be along soon. You'll get more help then you know what to do with

Welcome aboard, it's nice to have you here

[cb977]

Hi and welcome

I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your grandfather...I'm sure he's watching you and his orchids and will give you a hand in their care

Vandas have no way to store water or nutrients so they must be supplied by you. I have most of my vandas hanging freely and their roots get heavily misted every day until the white wrapping on them turns green. Once it turns green, you know that the water has reached the actual root which is inside.

The friend who told you they bloom once and then you throw it out...ummm, don't listen to them when it comes to your orchids Some orchids bloom just once a year while others have been known to bloom over and over

As for the "blue"...there is no actual blue, they are all varying shades of purple...but if you take a picture of one with a digital camera and look at the screen, you'll see the most stunning shades of blue ever! Go figure!

Check out our Vanda forum and the rest of the board, feel free to ask questions...you now have friends who know what they are doing and would be happy to help you to care for your grandfather's collection.

[Ray]

Don't throw anything away. The advice you got was incorrect.

Many sympodial orchids - those that form new growths connected by a rhizome - do only bloom once per growth, but they still photosynthesize to create food, and then store it and water for use by the rest of the "colony", and those newer growths will bloom.

All monopodial plants - those with a single growth that continue growing indefinitely like phalaenopsis and your vanda - bloom over and over again, but usually from a new flower spike each time.

Read "Spike Cutting" to learn more.

[rogerman]

Firstly welcome to the board...... I'm obviously the first of many Vanda growers.
Vandas love light and sun..... They love lots of water, but it's not a good idea to keep the roots wet for long as they'll rot.
Is your plant hanging or sitting? Mine are all hanging with the roots dangling down, as they don't like being confined.

This Vanda is about 5 years old........ It has already had 6 flowers, and you can see three new spikes for new flowers growing.

[rogerman]

oops someone beat me, thats what happens when you have to move the car.

[dounoharm]

hi and welcome!! about cutting the spike....make sure you only cut the flowering spike and not the main stem....you dont want to whack your plant down! keep the roots misted till green several times a day, but not at nite...orchids dont like to be wet at nite.think like this: whatever you do, do it before noon......vandas love light too, so maybe some auxillary light would help....i am sure you will be fine with them, good luck and be sure and ask questions!

[Grandma M]

Quote: I have put a plastic mesh pot upside down in another larger pot and I mist it daily.

What is purpose for two pots? I grow some in mesh pots, but I just let the roots hang, and do their own thing.

Marilyn

[poppy86orchids]

I went to a nursery for advice. They suggested the mesh pot upside down inside another pot, as I didn't have anywhere to hang it. It's roots are not confined as they would be if potted, and they are well aired. I make sure there is no water left in the at the bottom of pot.
I found a feeder that you put of few drops of in the water mister (BabyBio Orchid Food), but was told it only needs feeding when growing.
So shall I move the vanda to a window that would get the morning sun? I have a huge bay window that gets a lot of light, but it get very hot in the summer.
I also read about a type of moss you can put over the roots to help it keep its water?
The roots are still brown in colour with a few white bits. Hopefully they will go green soon, but it sounds like I need to be a bit more liberal with the water I'm giving it. Thank you everyone!

[poppy86orchids]

What do you mean by the 'white wrapping' on them please?