Vanda question

[beezer34]

I have a Vanda that is about 19 inches tall, with the bottom 10 inches just bare stem. Is this unusual or should it have leaves all the way up the stem?
The top nine inches has leaves and a new spike as well.

[neb]

That can happen from time to time. Do you have any roots growing in that lower 10 inches??

[beezer34]

Not protruding from the stem itself. There are, of course, the roots at the base of the plant.
would the stem-root indicate something?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Roots growing along the stem is a good sign that it is growing well. This is especially important if the roots on the bottom are dead or dying. The roots should be about a 1/2" thick. New healthy roots are white with a green tip. Old healthy roots are an olive green, solid and should turn green when watered. Thin green roots with green tips are common (I forgot the reason why they develop thin roots). Brittle or squishy black, beige, or gray roots are no good. Obviously shriveled roots are no good as well.

[neb]

no but if it had roots up on the stem then you could cut off the lower section and have a more compact plant and if you were luck then the lower half with the roots may put out a keiki or two. You could try and stimulate root growth farther up by wrapping sphagnum moss around the stem and keeping it moist with a diluted fertilizer and some Dyna-Gro K-L-N rooting concentrate. It may take some time for the root system to be strong enough for you to cut it in half

[beezer34]

Thanks!
But other than looking a little gawky, the plant is not in any trouble? Just a really long stem?

[neb]

as long as leaves have stopped falling it will be ok

if they are turning yellow and falling off then the cause could be temperature related if so the raise the temperature to at least 60˚

if they are drying out at the tips and working down the leaf then it may be too much stuff dissolved in the water

[dgenovese1]

Hi Beezer34,

Most vandas should have leaves along the entire length of stem, although a few species do not. A couple of reasons that they defoliate are a lack of water, and temperatures lower than 50 degrees F.

Under ideal conditions, vandas should be watered daily: a good watering until the water is running off of the roots, and then a repeat watering about 10 minutes later. On really hot days, a second watering late in the morning or early afternoon will not hurt, so long as there is enough daylight time left in the day for the roots to dry.

I hope this helps.