Vandas: Does a cutting really take 9 years to bloom?

[Queenslander]

This cutting which is about 4 years old, has been moved out of semi-shade, to this dappled position for 2 months now. My question is, I was told by someone from our Orchid Club, that it will take 9 years to send up a flower. Is this correct. Am I treating it right. I have a terete vanda (was also a cutting, I received last year) which has flowered twice in one year. Which incidentally gets the same amount of water and fertilizer as the strap leaf vanda. What am I doing wrong with this orchid?

[Baz in Oz]

A quick phone call to Fred or Ros at Brighton Orchids at Narangba on 3888 1859 will get you an answer.
Wait until later in the week as they are in Sydney this weekend.

Baz

[orchidsamore]

The main reason to have cuttings rather than seedlings is that they are mature and can flower as early as the next season. It does not require 9 years. Even seedlings can flower in 4-5 years from seed with consistent care.

Your cutting should have flowered by now.

I would concentrate on culture.

More light - the semi-shade you had it in will never be enough to flower a Vanda.

Consistent heavy watering - EVERY day watering and soak the roots enough for water to soak through the velum (white coating on root) to reach the thin root inside. You do not have any roots hanging from the bottom of the basket, which is an indication of insufficient water. Your roots are staying around the basket because that is where the water is found.

Then fertilize every week. Vanda are big eaters.

Water and fertilizer both must be applied on a regular basis. Do not forget them for weeks at a time.

[makaldoy]

Try checking out if there's any spike history on apex/stem. It would tell if your vanda is one of those frequent or lazy blooming one. I got one of semi-terete vanda bought as uproot (removed entirely from mount) and until now about a year and half still not blooming. Hahaha I'm tired of her and at anytime she might be given away. I think a lazy blooming vandas would not flower as expected despite any care or treatment you do to them, in my experience.

Tip on buying vanda: always check for history of flowering/spike - the more you found the better chance of getting frequent and possibly restless blooming one just like this:

Vanda JVB


Look at the spike history this topcut bloomed about seven times in one and a half year. The one in front hasn't flowered since I bought it last Feb 2010.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by makaldoy

Try checking out if there's any spike history on apex/stem. It would tell if your vanda is one of those frequent or lazy blooming one. I got one of semi-terete vanda bought as uproot (removed entirely from mount) and until now about a year and half still not blooming. Hahaha I'm tired of her and at anytime she might be given away. I think a lazy blooming vandas would not flower as expected despite any care or treatment you do to them, in my experience.

Tip on buying vanda: always check for history of flowering/spike - the more you found the better chance of getting frequent and possibly restless blooming one just like this:

Vanda JVB


Look at the spike history this topcut bloomed about seven times in one and a half year. The one in front hasn't flowered since I bought it last Feb 2010.

Look at this photo of my noid. Man, she sure does look like your's but I'm not convinced mine's a JVB. I've had her for 7 years. This one was a 6" cutting when I got her and it took 4 years to get a good spike. Then, during the same year, she spiked 4 more times. I've had to move mine around a bit because of her size. She's grown two sizeable keikis within the last 2 years but they haven't bloomed yet. The larger one is trying to but can't set a spike yet. The momma plant has been in a bloom slump since late December 2010. I was getting worried but then discovered that a palm tree was casting too much shade during prime time sun exposure. She spiked 4 days after I moved her to better lighting and she's currently in bloom. Maybe your's needs a little more sunlight. I love this vanda and wouldn't give her up for anything, noid or not...well, almost anything.

[Queenslander]

Thanks Baz.

[Queenslander]

Makaldoy, the lady who gave me this cutting, says her Vandas are flowering like mad. They grow behind her cabin on a sand island off Brisbane. She doesn't give them any special attention or fert. or water. What should be in the bottom of the wooden basket I have mine in. I didn't think you needed to use potting bark. I just have a handful of bark in there, with some tillandra.

[Queenslander]

Thanks Jerry, I really think that it is the culture "thing", I will try to spend more time on watering and fert. The mother of this plant flowers all the time, I am told by the owner. With no special care?