Too much or too little water on this Aerides Lawrenciae x Odorata

[orchidsamore]

Vandaceous orchids need heavy watering every day.

I see you are in zone 10b, I am in 10a. I agree with the comment in Martin Motes book on growing Vanda. that you can not over water a Vanda. Mine get 10 minutes to 30 minutes a day. I have soaked Vanda overnight but feel an hour is sufficient..

Your plant had been in a pot before shipping to you. The air roots which are almost white are what is supporting the plant. The roots that were in the pot will probably dry out and die. It is not necessary to remove bad roots on a Vanda. They will not spread to other parts of the plant like other orchids. Removing old roots are only for looks.

The plant should recover fine. The leaves will never plump up like you might be thinking. New Growth should be fine. It is a long slow process to becoming a good plant.

I do not think you should try to grow it in medium. Young Vanda are grown in pots until they become larger. Your plant had started to lose those potted roots before you got it.

Commercially I cut off the roots with the pot on a plant like this before I put them in baskets so that my customers do not get the confusion you are having. You do not have the ability to maintain two types of roots and there is no reason to try. This is the result of mass producing plants and does not do anything good or bad for the plant.

Aerides are vine growing Vanda so pot grown is distinctly unnatural. They can naturalize for you in a tree in your temperature zone.

[samnkyle]

Jerry, you're a genius!

I removed the potting media and set my mister/sprinkler to 3x/day, 5 mins each!

It's now growing roots!
The first blister I thought was a disease or scale of some sort, I almost rubbed it off!!

But you can tell from my pictures that they're now happy! Woohoo!

[samnkyle]

I was so worried a year ago this wouldn't survive. Now look at it now!
The flowers are quite fragrant too!
Thought I'd share.

[Leafmite]

I think the advice given to you sounds right for your conditions. I have aerides odorata and aerides quinquevulnerum but I grow in the home (no fans, misting, etc) so I use plastic vanda baskets and lava rock. Good luck!

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[Leafmite]

Didn't realize it was a year ago! Wow! Absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations!

[samnkyle]

And everyone else who gave great suggestions!
Just thought you might like to know your suggestions worked!