Need advice to rescue vandas

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Acharn

Lorraine, thanks. These are the kind of tips I was hoping for. The comments from everyone else were a boost to my confidence, but the details are good to have. sugar water? I've never seen that mentioned, but I'll give it a try. Up until last week they were still attached to the dead base of the parent, at the bottom of a small, rectangular plastic pot. I thought they might respond well if I gave them room to grow in. It's really amazing to me that they aren't dead -- they weren't getting much water in the tangled brush where I had left them (well, it wasn't tangled brush when I hung them there, but stuff grows so fast here).

I spoke to my nephew this evening and he said he'll look for baskets for me. I remember when I was living in Phanat Nikhom thirty years ago I was able to get small wooden baskets at a garden supply shop -- Nakhorn Sawan is a much larger town, I should be able to find them here.

I found a website to show you how to make an orchid basket. I would totally try it if I was not able to buy them locally using hard wood. I have seen some here made with bamboo strips. Roots cover up mistakes for sure! how to make a wooden slat orchid basket

[Acharn]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

I found a website to show you how to make an orchid basket. I would totally try it if I was not able to buy them locally using hard wood. I have seen some here made with bamboo strips. Roots cover up mistakes for sure! how to make a wooden slat orchid basket

Oh, thanks. Gee, that's quite big! I don't think that's what I need for these little guys. When my niece and nephew brought the new orchids three weeks ago my niece was talking about taking me to visit an orchid farm they know. It seems to be owned by friends or relatives, so I expect I could pick up some new plants there, although they probably don't normally sell in lots of less than fifty. So I'm hoping I can maybe pick up some materials there.

When I was living in Phanat Nikhom about thirty years ago there was a garden supply shop in town that had everything: clay pots, plastic pots, wooden baskets of all sizes, potting soil (not for orchids). I was able to buy some wooden slatted baskets about three inches on a side. That's what I hope to find now. Trouble is, I have to depend on the kids to drive me anywhere, and they have to work, so scheduling shopping expeditions is not easy.

[Lorraine]

The beauty of making your own baskets is you can make them any size and any height. The baskets available here at a local Orchid Supplier are the type and height in the picture but they also have Vanda baskets that are not as high. I use the smaller ones, 4" for my little guys to get started.

[Acharn]

Just wanted to update the situation. One of the Vandas has sprouted a new root. I've got them both in plastic "pots," one (the one that's growing a new root) is in a small square basket-like thing that seems to be standard for vandas here in Thailand now. I wish I could find the small wooden ones, but I'm afraid a trip to Phanat Nikhom is out of the question, and I don't have any way of knowing if that shop still exists (I did like that town, but there's no going back).

The other has lost one of its leaves, leaving two. It's not showing any sign of roots, yet, but there seems to be a new leaf emerging, so at least it's not dead (yet). The one growing the root is in a place where it's getting a bit of direct sunshine in the late afternoon, the other is farther back where it's getting indirect light. The sunshine reflects off the ground in the afternoon, and I'm hoping that's enough. I'm dunking them for a few minutes every morning and on hot days again around noon or 1:00 o'clock. Want to let them dry out before nightfall.

Saw on some other orchid site today, "Two months is not very long in vanda terms." That's encouraging. Thanks to everybody for your help.

[AussieVanda]

May I also suggest you contact kultana orchids? Thai based vanda specialists. ..

[Acharn]

Originally Posted by AussieVanda

May I also suggest you contact kultana orchids? Thai based vanda specialists. ..

Hmmm. "Minimum order US $250.00 not including shipping."

I'm afraid that's more than I can use. I have to just deal with the guys who have booths at the open air market on weekends at the nearby Army base.

[Lorraine]

Regarding the sugar water... I visited my friendly orchid vendor at an Open House this past weekend. I mentioned that a couple of my Mokaras/Vandas had lost their roots due to damage. He told me that he uses sugar water with as much sugar as the water will hold, a large dose of Super Thrive, and Seaweed extract, large dose. Soak for an hour or so and if its really bad overnight. Only do this once. Did my guys today and will see what it does. Can't hurt since they need a boost and they got one

[AussieVanda]

Originally Posted by Acharn

Hmmm. "Minimum order US $250.00 not including shipping."

I'm afraid that's more than I can use. I have to just deal with the guys who have booths at the open air market on weekends at the nearby Army base.

I actually meant as a local point of contact for advice.

[Acharn]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Regarding the sugar water... I visited my friendly orchid vendor at an Open House this past weekend. I mentioned that a couple of my Mokaras/Vandas had lost their roots due to damage. He told me that he uses sugar water with as much sugar as the water will hold, a large dose of Super Thrive, and Seaweed extract, large dose. Soak for an hour or so and if its really bad overnight. Only do this once. Did my guys today and will see what it does. Can't hurt since they need a boost and they got one

I got impatient and soaked them a second time last month. As I say, the one is growing a beautiful root, The other one isn't, yet, but doesn't seem to have died yet either. They're both from the same parent, so if I can save one of them I'll be happy.

[Lorraine]

Just remembered another tidbit. Lay the Vanda on its side rather than hanging upright. I'm trying that too. I also think that just some sugar water without all the rest of the stuff can give a boost in between.