vanda question - Orchid Board

dragom · #1 10-08-2009, 06:58 PM

My wife and I picked up a Noid Vanda (never thought to ask its id when we were at the nursery so it is a noid) in hawaii in nov. of 2006 that was in bloom at the time. Since I have only one vanda I have no idea what a spike looks like. I thought once I had one but it was just roots. I have something that is higher up on the plant that I think might be a spike but then again I was wrong once before. Do anyone have a starting spike that they could post so I can tell what is what. Here is a picture up under the wording is what I am trying to figure out what it is. I have hopes it is a spike but I think it is a root.

neb · #2 10-08-2009, 07:47 PM

I don't have any picks of the start on a spike but they will be more rounded that a root. Most of the time it is described as looking like a mitten coming out. If you could post a pick of what you have then it could be identified.

Blueszz · #3 10-08-2009, 08:03 PM

I would like to jump in with a question about Vanda spikes of that's OK. Is there a specific location where they apear? For instance like leaf axels as with Phalaenopsis?

dragom · #4 10-08-2009, 08:11 PM

good question I kind of would like to know that too.

Hirschy · #5 10-08-2009, 10:32 PM

i heard that spikes usually occur the 4th leaf town from the top (???) i know you can have more than one spike... not sure if those follow this rule as well.. i have 5 vandas in bloom right now and 4 have spikes exactly on the 4th leaf down... the other plant doesnt even have 4 leaves, haha

my guess would be that this is a new root growth, which means you have a healthy plant! do you use food/ fertilizer??

i dont know if u can count in the picture.. but all are 4th leaf down....

Hirschy · #6 10-09-2009, 01:19 AM

another thing is that u can get roots that sprout all over the place... vandas love having roots exposed to the air... so maybe its just trying to sprout a root outside the potting material???
as u can see from this image (or not so clearly) is that the whole bottom foot or so of this plant has roots coming out all over the place... also the plant to the right has the same roots...

again im just speculating... could be totally off. hope this is of some use though!

cambridgestephen · #7 10-09-2009, 05:13 AM

definitely a root, sometimes I wrap a wire around them and try and divert them into the pot without snapping them, tricky...

orchidsamore · #8 10-09-2009, 07:57 AM

it is a root. Vanda spikes begin between the leaves not from the side of the plant.

I read the post about the spikes starting at the 4th leaf. I had to go to the Vanda house and look. While it was true for about 85% of my Vanda, I also had them at the third and fifth leaves.

dragom · #9 10-09-2009, 06:22 PM

oh well maybe one day it will bloom. What do I need to do to get it to bloom is seems healthy enough I just don't get it. Beg It To PLEASE bloom!!!

Blueszz · #10 10-09-2009, 06:33 PM

If it's old enough to bloom, you might want to change something, like giving it more light?

Nicole