Vanda Help!! Leafs falling off.

[neb]

I agree with Angurek the roots look dead and desiccated. I would suggest more water and better air movement but leave the light as it is. If you can find large enough of a container to soak the roots in, then soak them for about one hour in the morning and again in the afternoon.

[Vanda lover]

Yes, the roots do look dry. Vandas love a good soak. I found that it isn't practical to grow them bare root for me, because I'm not prepared to soak then twice a day, so I have mine in a basket with some sphagnum and charcoal. It's easy to tell when it needs water, which in the summer here is about every second to third day. I also mist often, especially the arial roots. A lot of people are growing them in vases, where the roots dangle and you can fill up the vase, soak a while and drain off all but a bit. But I found the same drawback as you mentioned- roots are far too long. I have a gastrochilus growing this way since December, and it is getting ready to bloom. I fill the vase when it looks a little dry.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Needs more water. Maybe grow potted with large grade bark instead.

They'll be fine. Vandas drop leaves when they don't get enough water, but they'll bounce right back once they get the water they need.

My Vanda coerulea did the exact same thing. There was a period of time when I didn't water enough and it dropped leaves. Once I watered more often, it stopped dropping leaves. It also produced keikis.

Yours might do the same thing.

But like Vanda lover said, it apparently isn't practical for you to grow bareroot in a basket.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I was thinking...

Maybe you know this already, maybe not...

It's okay to water twice a day when they're being grown potted when they are dehydrated like this. Once in the early morning. Another in the late afternoon.

Once the Vandas stop dropping leaves, (it won't take long - maybe in 2 - 3 weeks), then you can reduce the watering to once a day or once every 2 or 3 days depending on the situation.

Keep close watch on them for the time being.

[kaarthiik]

Thanks a ton to all your inputs. You guys are simply great!!! With all your support I am ordering more and more orchids, my next lot is to be received in a week...

Presently, I am watering multiple times.

During the weekdays I can water only after 5.00 PM in the evening

In the morning I am planing to spray 3 times, with an hour gap between the spraying (6.30 AM to 9.30 AM) and evening I would spray by 5.30 PM. (In my locality sun light is till 6.30 PM as it is summer)

And the important thing is roots become white/dry with in 20 minutes after spraying/immersing in water, I hope it is okay..
I am running a small cooler, during the hot hours of the day.