Vanda Growers, should I exchange bagged babies?

[NewBloom]

I was over at Home Depot the other day and got roped into bringing home two bagged Better-gro vandas. I don't have any yellow or blue flowers in my orchid collection so... You know how it goes when you try to justify an impulse buy

They obviously didn't get much care at Home Depot and I wonder if that's yet another set back in getting them on track. I'm wondering if I've got several years of tending to green plants before these babies bloom.

Long story short, I'm considering taking them back to another HD location and exchanging them for two other vandas in better shape. There's also a lot of satisfaction to be had in reviving a plant but will it take 3-4 years?

One is from June 2009.

[Blueszz]

I think that you are right when you think they need several years to bloom. I guess it might be even longer than 3-4 years. How are the roots? Do they turn green when you soak them?
Can't tell from the pictures, how are the leafs? Wrinkled or not?
As far as I can tell from the pictures they don't look too bad!

Nicole

[RJSquirrel]

like 14 bucks each? might as well keep em and use em for project plants

then go order a few small vanda's from kalapana orchids in spike @ 2 for 40 bucks ..with the 30 dollar 2 day shipping , might as well toss in a few more of the monthly specials and get the free dendrobium since it doesnt cost anymore to ship...I know you want to shop anyway.

then you will forget about the HD bag babies. them bag babies look fine..they been doing well in that plastic bag all this time, they only die when people take them out and water them

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The leaves on the "Bag baby" Vandas look fine, they don't appear to be physically damaged beyond help. They need more light though, they're too dark green.

Roots are important, I recommend checking the roots to see if they are in good shape. Water the plants thoroughly before checking, that way if you have to remove the plant from the pot it's less likely to be damaged (wet roots are more pliable and they also can be removed from the edges of the pots easier).

These Vandas have a long ways to go before they reach blooming size. It's possible they may reach blooming size 3 - 4 yrs from now, but it's much more likely it will be more like 5 - 6 yrs from now under ideal conditions.

Whether you want to exchange them for larger ones is up to you.

[NewBloom]

You all zeroed in on what I consider a drawback...that it'll take years and years before they bloom.

If I had other blooming size vandas to take me through the growing period it would be fine. I don't want more than 2-3 total because I already have a collection of plants that have to be moved indoors when temps drop below 50 in the winter.

The roots aren't plentiful but they are in decent shape The leaves have a dent or two from the careless way they were stored--props to the HD staff--and are a celery color, though they appear darker in the photos.

I'll give it some more thought and check the other Home Depot store to see if their selection is better before I decide to exchange one or both.

Thank you all!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If you're looking for some "blue" Vandas that can tolerate temperatures down to 36 F, I know a couple species that fit the bill if you'd like to know what they are. Both species can attain blooming size at fairly small sizes. One of the two species is a small sized Vanda.

There aren't any true Vandas that are orange that I'm aware of. But there are Ascocentrums that are orange, as well as various different intergeneric hybrids involving Vandas. I don't know how low they can go though.

[jrhennek]

Depending on the cross some vandas are quiet small in size when they bloom. Some of the small seedling vandas also grow very fast. I have had good luck with bringing some vanda seedlings into bloom in only a couple of years. I would thing that you would do very well down in Tampa. Vandas have become the largest part of my collection here in Minnesota and I will have to check out the HD here to see if they have any vandas.

[NewBloom]

Phillip, I would love to know which species you had in mind for cool growing vandas.

Jrhennek, I've come to realize that while big box stores offer cheaper prices, you don't have the benefit of a grower on hand to tell you the history of the plant. I have no true idea of knowing how close (or far) these babies are to blooming. These were the smaller sized ones. There were bigger ones that were twice the price.

Anyways, the bigger of the two is a V. Pachara Delight 'Pachara' . I've searched the web and the blue/purple blooms are so unique and lovely. I might keep it because I almost feel like a bad parent. Almost.

The second on that's marked 6/12/09 is: V. Kultana Gold Udmomchal x Ascda Golden.

Thanks for your input

[lambelkip]

Vanda coerulea is one of the ones that can handle cold. It's been known to handle temperatures down to 27F with no damage.
Vanda Pachara Delight is about 50% Vanda coerulea, and can handle cold fairly well. Since it was so cheap, you might as well try mounting it on a tree outside.
The Ascocenda can't handle cold, and you'll need to bring it in with your other plants.
Both plants will stay fairly small, and are near blooming size.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

As was stated, Vanda coerulea is one of them. The other one is Vanda coerulescens. These are the 2 "blue" Vandas that I know of that can truly handle cooler temperatures.

There are other species of Vandas that can handle temperatures down to 36 F easily as well. I don't recommend leaving them out in snowy conditions though.

Of course the hybrids involving V. coerulea can handle lower temperatures as well.

If you're growing them outdoors, I recommend maybe growing them in a pot instead of bareroot.