Help with my Vanda Cindy Banks

[melopugh]

"The" Cindy Banks this orchid was named for was a friend of mine. She took my family and me to visit her son Bill's orchid greenhouses one day 12+ years ago. Bill gave me a Cindy Banks orchid. I did not know until some research today that it was a Vanda. I water it occasionally and fertilize it several times a year. But I know next to nothing about it. It has hung in the tree outside the front of my house since I brought it home with the exception of days when the temperature drops below 50. It blooms all year round. Usually 5 blooms at a time and the fragrance is heavenly. My problem is, as it blooms the "leaves" (pardon my ignorance on what to call them) fall off. I now have a "stalk" about 12-15" long with growth at the top. It has put out "roots" from the top and I think you can cut the stalk. She has grown to the wooden basket she sits in. I am so afraid I will lose her. I talked to someone yesterday at a plant sale who told me my plant was sick and probably dying. He rather scolded me for not taking better care of it. He said it needed water 3 or more times a week. I have never watered it that much and I can't think it would have lived this long if I truly had abused it. Can someone help me? I need genuine help not criticism.

[fishmommy]

the most common reason for leaf drop is lack of sufficient water.
some fungus infections could also cause it.

you must be doing things mostly right if it has bloomed well for you - hopefully just a tweak is needed to help it keep its leaves

any chance you could post a photo that closely shows the remaining leaves?

[tucker85]

Unfortunately vandas are high maintenance orchids compared to many others. There are three insuffiniencies that can cause the condition you mentioned. Not enough light, not enough water or not enough fertilizer. since it's blooming a lot it's probably getting enough light. It needs moisture often because it has no psuedobulb. I water mine every morning but every other day would probably sufice. Use a cheap hand sprayer with a light fertilizer mix once a week. Good luck.

[melopugh]

Now there are pictures attached.

[Angurek]

It looks like the plant is potted in a ceramic planter (the kind without drainage holes). I think the plant's losing its leaves from the stress of losing its roots.

Try repotting it into a hanging basket (I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you should skip the medium entirely when doing so. I've found that vandas in baskets do better when they have no medium and are watered daily).

You may also want to think about moving the plant to a brighter spot. These girls do better in high-light situations; they sulk and drop leaves if they're kept too shady.

[fishmommy]

I agree - putting the plant in a basket should do wonders for the plant. Vandas are very sensitive to root rot.

The aerial roots it is growing look healthy, and the remaining leaves look disease-free and not dehydrated, so that's great!

[melopugh]

Thanks guys. It is in a basket. It is sitting on top of a cement planter at the moment. Shge had been hanging in the tree all this time. But yesterday I thought I would attempt to repot her. I started dismantling the basket and found the older lower roots are all grown in and around the basket. She is sitting in a tiny clay pot in the bottom. I was afraid to go any farther with the repotting project until I sought some advice. So right now she is just propped against the tree on that pot. With the exception of some dead leaves from the tree and a little sphagnum moss there is almost nothing else but her roots in a around the basket. Since she has established the healthy roots at the top will it hurt her to free her from the basket?

[glengary54]

melopugh - Cindy Banks is the mother of Bill Thoms, most of our members are familiar with Bill as an incredible Bulbophyllum hybridizer but don't realize just how many other genera he has hybridized.

Your Vanda Cindy Banks (V. Mimi Palmer X V. luzonica) looks typical for plants of it's genera grown here in Central Florida, no need to panic. As we are heading out of the growing season, my suggestion to you is to not do annything to it until spring. Some of the others are correct, your plant needs a bit more light, water and fertilizer but the main issue that is causing it to drop leaves over time is the temperature you are growing it at. Vandas will start dropping leaves under 60 degrees. Here in Florida we call the resulting plants "Palm Tree" Vandas.

In the Spring, what I would do is cut off the lower portion of the plant leaving no less than 3 good, healthy roots and rebasket the plant into a new basket.

Living in Lake Wales, you should really try coming to our local Orchid Society meetings. We meet the 4th Tuesday of every month except November and December @7:30 at the Bartow Civic Center 2250 S. Floral Ave Bartow. Please feel free to contact me for further information.

I will be seeing Bill this Friday, would be happy to send your regards, if I knew your name. He will be very happy to know that his plant is still alive after all these years.

[melopugh]

Thanks Glen. I may take you up on the offer of the meetings. My name is Melodie Pugh and I was Cindy's hairdresser for many years. I left the beauty shop for a new career before she died but we kept in touch occasionally. Please give Bill my many, many thanks for his gift. It reminds me constantly of my friend. I was so afraid I had done something horrible to it and I have not been able to find anyone that could help me. It was not until I spoke with the person on Saturday and he scared me that I might lose my orchid that I attempted on line help. Thank you so much for your advise. It seems logical and practical. Do you think I could just bring her inside and put her in the window until spring? She seems a little vulnerable with the pot half dismantled and now our temperatures are going to fluctuate until spring. I have a table in the window right inside where she was hanging. She may get more light not being under the tree. Thanks again for your help. I had forgotten Bill's (Billy as Cindy called him) last name and had no idea how to find him.