Need advice to rescue vandas

[Acharn]

After my wife passed away last year I returned to the orchids which I had lost interest in over the last few years. To my surprise some of them have survived, and I've repotted almost all of them. The Cattleyas are thriving, to my great satisfaction, and the Dendrobiums at least haven't died yet and I think are going to grow well, though I don't think they'll be big enough to bloom this year.

My current problem is two small Vandas. Well, I'm pretty sure they're Vandas. If my memory is correct they started out as keikeis near the bottom of the stalk of a vanda my wife bought me. It never bloomed afterward, and I never found the right combination of sinlight, watering, and fertilizing. Gradually the leaves all fell off, but somehow these two little bellows survived. As nearly as I can recall they first appeared about three years ago, but they've never grown larger.

Several years ago I think I saw a Youtube clip showing a method for fixing monopodials in a basket, but I haven't been able to locate anything like that. Can anyone offer me guidance on how to proceed? I've heard that Vandas are a bit difficult. I thought I had more reference material (books) which discussed them, but now I don't find any detail about monopodials in general or Vandas in particular.

I'm thinking that if I don't contrary advice, I'll just go ahead and pot them the same as my Dendrobiums and Cattleyas, although the little comment I've found is that monopodials should be placed in "slatted baskets" with no potting material. Trouble is, I don't know what that means.

[Discus]

Hi Acharn, so sorry to hear about your wife, but glad you've rediscovered orchids.

"slatted baskets" are usually square or octagonal "hanging baskets" made out of strips of wood. You can also use plastic "net pots". In Thailand, I suspect you can pretty much get away with tying them on to a piece of string!

If you look at these posts, you'll probably see my Vanda growing "in" a plastic net pot; effectively, teh roots just grow out of the holes, and there is wire attached to the basket to hang the plant up:
Orchids on a Balcony: Vanda

My Rhynchostylis is also similarly mounted:
Orchids on a Balcony: Rhynchostylis

Effectively, all you have to do is get a basket or pot like that, thread the roots through the holes, and perhaps use some kind of wire or string to support the plant in the pot while the roots attach to it; you attach "hanging wires" to the top of the pot and hang it somewhere. Water profusely at least once a day!

[tucker85]

Here, in Florida, most vandas are grown bare root. They can be tied into a basket with little or no media or they can be tied onto a wire hanger or long 's' hook. In Thailand they often attach them to a piece of wood like a 1" by 2". Just let the roots hang free. It's best to water them every day if possible. As you might suspect, with those thin stiff leaves, they prefer strong light. Just protect them from the mid-day sun that can burn them. If they've been growing in lower light conditions, slowly acclimate them to stronger light so you don't burn the leaves. I spray some liquid fertilizer on the roots twice a week in the summer and once a week in the winter. They grow all year long. They don't have a rest period. Check around the area where you live. Vandas are very popular in Thailand. Good luck.

[Vanda lover]

I have some in baskets, but the one that is doing best for me is growing bare root in a clear glass vase. I fill the vase with fertilizer and water and soak it once a week during the winter and twice a week in summer. I mist the roots daily. The only thing I worry about is burning the roots when the sun heats up the vase. I have read that some people put foil around the vase when the sun is strong.

[Bud]

If you are living in Thailand at the moment, then you have no problems growing Vandas. They are endemic to your area.
You have high humidity in the atmosphere.
If you cant find any baskets then mount it on a piece of wood or if you have a garden then mount it on a tree.
You don't have frost so you will be fine growing it outdoors all year round.
You may gradually expose it to direct sun or the shade of a tree will do just fine.
The summers in Thailand can be scorching so you have to water it twice a day....when it gets cooler you may water it every other day.
Those are healthy keikis and they will survive if you follow the Vanda culture religiously.
Feed it fertilizer weekly.

[Vanda lover]

Bud is right. In your area you should find them easy to grow.

[james mickelso]

I agree with all that has been presented. I would also like to know more about living in Thailand as I am thinking of retiring to Thailand/ Indo in a couple years when I retire. I can have all the orchids I want and spend time knowing others who grow them. And I can surf any time with no wetsuit.

[Acharn]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

I agree with all that has been presented. I would also like to know more about living in Thailand as I am thinking of retiring to Thailand/ Indo in a couple years when I retire. I can have all the orchids I want and spend time knowing others who grow them. And I can surf any time with no wetsuit.

Well, I love it here, but I married a Thai girl when I was in the Army stationed here back during the Vietnam War. She died eighteen years ago, but my pension and Social Security are just enough to meet the income requirements for a retirement visa. Try to learn as much of the language as you can, because most places outside of Bangkok very few people speak English. I live in Nakhorn Sawan, about 150 miles (250 km) north of Bangkok. If you live in an area with a Thai Buddhist temple they usually offer Thai language classes.

I'm not much into beaches or diving, but I get the impression that most divers do wear wetsuits here. Sadly, there isn't any surf. Nothing like Hawaii, or even California. Don't know exactly why that is, because we do have wonderful sand beaches.

[james mickelso]

Depends on which side you are on and the season. Great waves there when it is on.

[Acharn]

Thanks, everybody, for the endouragement. I think the reason I didn't succeed with the original plant was that I had it in a place that didn't get enough sun. I've found a place for my current plants that seems to be better, and they are all doing better, so I have some hope.

I know a guy (through the Internet) who owns an orchid farm, and he mentioned that Vandas are in great demand. I was lucky enough to go to the flower show in Chiang Rai over the New Year, and they had literally thousands of them. Amazing spectacle.