Vanda Dream Team - Page 2 - Orchid Board

ElleK7 · #11 08-31-2012, 08:27 PM

Dang! I was so excited too

Bud · #12 08-31-2012, 08:40 PM

you have four old cut spikes(meaning=if the plant is a specie it is more than four years old)...the next spike will come out of the right leaf just above the old cut one....the nubbin you see is a root and its a good omen: the warmer months gives the plant a chance to grow leaves and roots to gather enough energy for beautiful blooms....

honeybee · #13 10-30-2012, 12:05 AM

I have a couple of vanda's too both Robert's Delight a blue and purpe?. Mine are hanging out in wood baskets that I lined with screen and are in bark. These seems to retain the moisture w/o the rot and I can get by with watering every 3rd day or so. Roots seem fat & healthy. My question is when do they typically bloom and do I need to keep them under a grow light during winter? I have all my catts hogging the lights right now. BTW I'm in Michigan and also use a humidifier.

Vanda lover · #14 10-31-2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElleK7

Hi, I'm Ellen. I'm an orchid newbie. I live in the Chicago area, in the suburbs. Anyways, I of coarse plan on visiting Natt's Orchids or Hausermann's again soon to get my first Vanda. I was just curious if people could suggest "easy" to grow Vandas or Vandas that bloom pretty frequently.

I do have a south facing window.

I currently have 2 Phalaenopsis which have been in bloom for almost two months now. A Rhynchodenia (Formerly Rhynchorides) Magic Wand which I bought bloomed, and 2 weeks in fell off. And a Lc Sagarik Wax "Chia Lin" which also the flower fell off in 2 weeks. I just moved the Rhynchodenia and Sagarik outside, and so far so good. I've been misting in the afternoon everyday before work. Both of them are in pots as well.

So Vanda dream team suggestions?

I have a vanda Pachong blue that blooms 3 to 4 times a year and has lovely, large flowers. It's my favourite.

honeybee · #15 10-31-2012, 09:25 PM

Hi Vanda Lover - what conditions do you have for your vandas to get them to bloom that often? Do you have them under lights? How often to do you water etc....?

Vanda lover · #16 11-01-2012, 02:40 AM

I just try to give them as much light as I can. I put them outside whenever possible in the summer. They have morning light as well as filtered light for the rest of the day. I used to move them around from window to window during the winter, but now I have a light to supplement. there isn't room for them all there, though. So I have one that goes in the east window, sometimes gets moved to the south window if it is sunny,and at the end of the day it is beside our pole lamp in the living room. That seems to work well. I have most in sphag and charcoal in baskets, and a few in vase culture. I water when the sphag just becomes dry, which is once or twice a week. I feed once a week year round.

BradGC · #17 11-01-2012, 04:10 AM

Also, make sure when you're just starting out that you buy a flowering size or near flowering size. Many people (including myself) buy seedlings and don't realize that a seedling can be nearly 3 years away from flowering. Although it is really fun and a bit of a challenge to raise seeds to a flowering size specimen.

Good luck!

Vanda lover · #18 11-01-2012, 01:26 PM

If you do buy young plants, be very careful not to burn them. I have a couple that I put in too much light. When they are young they burn easily but become tougher as they age. My old vanda can take pretty strong sun without burning.

honeybee · #19 11-01-2012, 08:56 PM

I bought one baggie baby online a year ago and it's leaf span is about 20" tip to tip. The second I also bought as a baggie baby at HD in FL this summer and it's was just as big. It's 15 inches tall and the leaves are more like 18" tip to tip. Both are Robert's delight. Are these close to being blooming size?

Paul Mc · #20 11-01-2012, 09:07 PM

Oh! Younger Bandas can actually burn in too heavy of light!!!! OOPS!!!!! That explains sooooooo much!!!!