Water culture Vanda

[estación seca]

I think most people who have trouble with Vanda don't water enough, keep them too cool and/or don't fertilize enough during warm weather.

According to Martin Motes of Motes Orchids, a happy Vanda should have a 1 centimeter wide band of lighter green new tissue at the base of the leaves emerging from the crown. If this band isn't present, the plant is lacking at least one of adequate water, plentiful fertilizer and proper temperatures.

Your vase culture will solve the water problem.

At 68F most hybrid Vandas will hardly grow at all, but will not be in danger. NYC in summer is hot and humid outside, and Vandas seem to love it. Use the Search feature in the top maroon menu to look up the beautiful vandas OB member Bud grows on his fire escape.

There is no point fertilizing until it's good and warm, since the plant doesn't grow much at your temperatures. But when it feels warm to you, fertilizer is important.

As I mentioned, quite a few people run in to trouble with Vandas in full water culture when it's good and hot, and humid. Cooler weather seems not to be a problem with this. I don't know whether it has to do with the Vanda or with organisms growing in the water.

[fooferdoggie]

mine have grown all winter and the house would only be 67 when we were home and 56 when asleep or not home. the first one we got was slow it lost a lot of roots because of lack of water. but it has two new shoots starting down low.

[Irisha99]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I think most people who have trouble with Vanda don't water enough, keep them too cool and/or don't fertilize enough during warm weather.

According to Martin Motes of Motes Orchids, a happy Vanda should have a 1 centimeter wide band of lighter green new tissue at the base of the leaves emerging from the crown. If this band isn't present, the plant is lacking at least one of adequate water, plentiful fertilizer and proper temperatures.

Your vase culture will solve the water problem.

At 68F most hybrid Vandas will hardly grow at all, but will not be in danger. NYC in summer is hot and humid outside, and Vandas seem to love it. Use the Search feature in the top maroon menu to look up the beautiful vandas OB member Bud grows on his fire escape.

There is no point fertilizing until it's good and warm, since the plant doesn't grow much at your temperatures. But when it feels warm to you, fertilizer is important.

As I mentioned, quite a few people run in to trouble with Vandas in full water culture when it's good and hot, and humid. Cooler weather seems not to be a problem with this. I don't know whether it has to do with the Vanda or with organisms growing in the water.

Ok, then, I will patiently wait for warmer temps to fertilize. will continue my water culture routine since it seems to be working. And keep my fingers crossed for it. Thank you again!

---------- Post added at 04:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:01 PM ----------

Originally Posted by fooferdoggie

mine have grown all winter and the house would only be 67 when we were home and 56 when asleep or not home. the first one we got was slow it lost a lot of roots because of lack of water. but it has two new shoots starting down low.

They are such beautiful plants. Hope I can keep it as happy as yours seems to be

[fooferdoggie]

Originally Posted by Irisha99

They are such beautiful plants. Hope I can keep it as happy as yours seems to be

they are cool but they are higher maintenance too. with the light and the soaking. mine are all in jars now but I have been doing 1/2 hour twice a week I may go longer. they are growing but none have bloomed. they get a lot of light so it may not quite be enough water. one is in a 2.5 gallon jar because the roots were so long and thick. its a pain to fill and dump it. but I found I have to really drain them well. so I dump them let them sit 20 minutes or so and dump again then the bottom does not stay wet. if it does then the roots start turning brown.

[Irisha99]

I did the same thing too, dumping it into a vase filled with water every 3 days and soaking roots for 20-30 minutes. But I don't think my vanda liked that at all because its growth was somewhat hindered and roots were all dry. Its roots would get nice and green after watering but would be silverish within the same day. Maybe humidity is not high enough here for it to be happy. That's why I decided to try water culture to make her happier(hopefully). What's your humidity level?
I only got it last year and it was in bloom, and beautiful. Don't know how or if it will bloom in water culture. But having fingers crossed

[fooferdoggie]

about 60 right now in the summer 40 to 50 I think. but I have not had them then so we will see.

[Irisha99]

That’s pretty good for Vanda. They like higher humidity I think.
This is her in bloom last year when my husband bought her for me. See those beautiful roots? I guess, They didn’t like my low humidity

[fooferdoggie]

I found one vanda sold in a vase at the local store I was pretty surprised. it has a huge amount of roots. wife had to have it it was 40.00 then a few weeks later they had another one without a bloom marked down to 7.00

[Irisha99]

Hahaha that’s an awesome discount! So you got two for $47. Great deal, I say. I think my husband paid $60-70 for this one. He had no idea what he was buying as he wanted to make me happy. But I had no experience with vandas, it was my first one. Well, learning as I go

[LFC25]

If the water is kept warm inside the vase, will it increase the humidity level and benefit the plant?