How Does Vase Culture Work?

[RandomGemini]

I'm trying to figure out how vase culture works, because I am interested in trying a vanda. I love the great big flowers and the form of the plant, but they're very large, so I would really only have space for one in my collection and I want to keep the care for it as simple as possible.

I really stink with mounted plants. Vase culture sounds a bit more forgiving than mounted culture, because the vase is semi-enclosed and creates humidity around the roots, which is not something you can say for mounted culture.

From what I've read... basically, you flood the container once a week with water and let the plant soak for 30 minutes, then drain the container and mist whenever you remember to do it. So it doesn't sound like daily misting is required.

Does that sound about right and if so, is that really all there is to it? It sounds really easy. I keep thinking there's gotta be a trick to it that I'm missing.

Are there particular species that work better in vase culture than others?

Could I grow the plant in a straight cylinder style vase, or does the shape of the vase matter? Some things I have read say that the shape of the vase needs to be narrow at the neck, but other things I have read say any vase will do, as long as all of the roots will fit inside it.

Thanks for the info!

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[Joyorchid]

Heres a thread about vase culture:
Vase for Vanda

But the theory as I understand is to obtain a tall vase with a large enough opening to be able to pour water in and out without damaging your plant or its roots. The enclosed space inside the vase keeps the humidity up, keeps the roots absorbing but without so much moisture that it compromises the root system. I tried it for a while with a Ascocenda Princess Mikasa but the roots outgrew the vase. Our humidity is so low in Colorado I was dunking it almost daily so now I just keep it bareroot and soak daily.

[RandomGemini]

That's probably something I could do actually, grow it bare root and just soak it daily. Our humidity is low here too. I can get my humidity up to 50% with a humidifier going constantly.

Would a vanda be able to tolerate my forgetting to do a soak for a day, maybe two tops, if I were to grow it bare root? Maybe... just potting it would be the best idea, but vase culture is really beautiful.

[Joyorchid]

Are you in Colorado?

[RandomGemini]

Eastern Washington State. I think you get just slightly more snow than I do, but otherwise the climate is very similar to what we have here. I'm not close enough to the ocean to get the humidity advantage that they have in Seattle.

[Joyorchid]

Once or twice a week I skip the dunking. I have pre filled buckets for each one and they always sit below them so it does create a bit of humidity for them. My Princess Mikasa blooms every 3 to 4 months and my Vanda Manuvadee has bloomed 2x in the past year. The others are newer so I have rebloomed them yet but their flowers lasted at least 2 months.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have been doing vase culture with a few Vandas since early last fall. I only do the soak 2 or 3 times a week. I seem to see the most root growth when I forget & don't soak them quite as often as intended (probably roots trying to find their way to more water).

The plants all seem healthy and well hydrated, but they have been been indoors (my office) the entire time. I will be moving them outside next weekend, probably will need to change what I use for vases at that time, I think I will be going with something plastic (like water bottles) that I can cut some ventilation/drainage holes into, maybe with some pebbles at the bottom for weight.

[Bud]

I try vase culture in the winter when I have humidity issues inside my apartment. But I bring all my plants outdoors in the warmer months when the New York atmosphere is high in humidity and warm.

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I tie a stick on the stem to hold the plant on the rim and curl the roots with the help of coated wire so they don't touch the water. I leave 1/4 level of water at the bottom of the vase.
I spray it everyday and fill to soak it with fertilizer for five minutes weekly....its also time to wash the bottom for debris and refill the water level.

[LovePhals]

Vase culture didn't work as well for me, similar to Joy the roots were too long, touched the bottom of the vase and rotted. Clay pots have done great for my 4 vandas. I actually place mine in clay pots and water every 2-3 days or daily if it is hotter. You can also place the pot in a plastic ziploc storage container bottom and place water in the bottom (without the pot touching the bottom of container) and the clay wicks it up and keeps the roots a little moist. Works well for me!

[bnegrete]

This January I was at an expo in Miami and one stand only sold Vandas in an acrilic vase bare root. The vase was about 18" tall and 8" wide; they recommended watering twice a week by filling the vase just to cover the roots and let it sit like that for 30 minutes and then carefully holding the plant, place the vase sideways to take out all Of the water... Hope this helps!!