Taking care of Vandas in NYC apartment

[Tindomul]

I have an east facing apartment, get good morning sun, and good day light as well. My Phals and Catts are happy, and I also grow other humidity lovers. But my apartment gets stiffling hot and bone dry in the winter months. Would I be able to grow Vandas in these conditions? I have an empty hook on ceiling acheing for a hanging basket

[Faerygirl]

Why don't you run a humidifier if its bone dry? Walmart sells kids coolmist vaporizers, or you can probably find one of the hot steam types. It would benefit your plants and you to have humidified air in winter instead of "bone dry" air. It might also increase your chance of being able to grow a vanda. You could water it in the shower (I have a friend in Ohio who does that) and take it into the bathroom with you when anyone is showering to give it a "humidity hit".

[Tindomul]

That shower idea is great!!! Thanks. But Im not getting naked infront of my orchids


Just kidding, I take hot showers and that will hurt them.

[Ross]

You need to take a cold shower, Tin

[Greenorchid]

I grow two Vandas in my apartment. I bought an humidifier, but after a week, i turned it off , 'cause the walls of the room were being covered of mildew! Therefore, from then, I spray with water (sorry, i don't know the exact word) my Vanda at least three times a day, and they are happy, one are quite in spike now! The temperature in winter never goes under the 20 centigrade degrees, in summer I put it outside(fortunately I live in a humid place) and every day it takes a bath in 10 liters of water and fertilizer

[20jlr]

You can also grow phals in a vanda basket they look great especialy when they are in bloom. Just let the flower spike grow naturaly and it will grow down.

[Faerygirl]

So true! I grow lots of stuff in those slat baskets. Dendrobiums and cattleyas go wild in them if you line the basket with mesh and fill it with Aliflor or old wine corks for media. Bromeliads love slat baskets, so do epiphytic ferns, hoyas, and epiphyllums

[Tindomul]

Great ideas!!!!! Thanks guys!

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Faerygirl

Why don't you run a humidifier if its bone dry? Walmart sells kids coolmist vaporizers, or you can probably find one of the hot steam types. It would benefit your plants and you to have humidified air in winter instead of "bone dry" air. It might also increase your chance of being able to grow a vanda. You could water it in the shower (I have a friend in Ohio who does that) and take it into the bathroom with you when anyone is showering to give it a "humidity hit".

I have two of those steam ones I bought off Ebay- are they really good for increasing humidity levels? I thought they might not be as good as the other ultrasonic humidifers and that they would create a lot of condensation

[Tindomul]

My dreams of Vandas hanging from my cieling will have to wait till I gets more mulah to pay for it. Great ideas though, keep them coming!!!