Grandmother's Vanda has few roots!!

[lj25]

My grandmother has given me some orchids in the past several months, including a large Vanda. I haven't had any problems with any of the others, but I don't have the slightest bit of experience with a Vanda, and I think it is going downhill quickly...

I have attached a few pictures so you can see what I mean...

Is there ANYTHING that can be done to save what is left of it?

[dougd]

Ugh! That looks sad, but not dead...yet

Hang it is a semi-sunny, warm window facing South or closest to it. Mist the roots daily with a solution of water and SuperThrive or KLN. Roots will come back, slowly because we are going into Winter. It will probably bloom in the Summer.

[Buds!]

Hi,
Welcome to the OB!

Poor Vanda! Lucky that it still has some leaves!
I think you need the 'spag'n bag' treatment- put the lower half of the plant in some moist spag moss and seal it in a plastic bag. The bag needs to be opened every couple of days for ventilation, then re-sealed.
What was this vanda growing in?
Keep us posted!

[cneos]

Make a few small knicks just below the bottom leaf and apply rooting hormone.

[Ray]

High humidity will help, too.

[lj25]

Thank you very much for the warm welcome!

When I received the vanda, it was in a pot with a one-two inch gravel layer on the bottom, and then a mix of Orchid potting bark and spag. moss.

[Neverend]

Oh dear, don't use hormones yet, that'll be more of a last resort since they can stress the plant. I think the sphag-in-a-bag method might work, just try it first, if it doesn't try other methods.

[cneos]

As there are no roots at the base of the fan, it looks like the vanda may be a topping. Roots that are showing are stunted; also looks like main growth has suffered from dessication and rot.

I agree with all the suggestions above, but add this one ... using a sterile tool, cut from bottom up an inch at a time to examine the interior of the main growth. Keep cutting until the cross-section is lush green. Cauterize the wound, then try root hormone. Vandae need lots of light and lots of water, but don't forget air movement or things will rot.

[lj25]

Cauterize the wound

How would I do that? Surely you don't mean the traditional burn-the-heck-out-of-the-end cauterization?!

[dougd]

Sprinkle cinnamon on the fresh cut. Cinnamon powder is a natural antiseptic and coagulant for plants. Plus its cheap and safe.