New Vanda Orchid owner

[SFC]

Hi Linda
is there water possibly sitting in the crown of the leaves for any period of time? that could cause rot and cause the leaves to yellow and fall off, maybe if you could post a picture of the plant and it's leaves that might help with a diagnosis.
Sarah

[RosieC]

If it's all turning yellow that really doesn't sound good. As Sarah has said, has it had water standing in the crown... although I was told that is not as bad on Vanda's as on Phals, but I still try and avoid it.

Really not sure what it might be I'm afraid.

[skeenski]

Maybe that might be the problem I spray it but don't dump out the leaves did not know that would create a problem.
Let me tell you how I water it maybe that is my problem.

I carefully lay it in my sink. Then I have been spraying it with water. I found out that the cholorine could be a problem I started letting water sit in a container overnight and the next day just pouring water over the orchid roots and leaves then hanging it back up to drip dry. Roots turn green. Should I let it sit in water or just pour water over the roots?
Is this wrong? Teach me how to properly water this beautiful plant.
I know how to take pix and send them email but I am just with this site learning to post and still figuring it out. Can you tell me how to post a pix of my orchid for help or give me your email so I can send it to you? Thanks Linda

[skeenski]

Am I watering it wrong do I just soak it in the water or do I just spray the roots? If I soak it for how Long?

Thank you so much for trying to help me keep this beautiful orchid alive with my black thumb. Linda

[Cewal]

My Vanda is in a basket with osmunda fiber, which drains and dries out quickly. That's what it was in when I bought it two years ago.

I fertilize once a week by soaking it for about 5 minutes. I mist, just the roots and medium, heavily until wet each morning. I mist the whole plant lightly each morning and early afternoon. I also have a fan running for air circulation. My plant seems very healthy and happy on this schedule.

[skeenski]

Thanks Minda
I have been pouring water over the roots with my sink sprayer and thinking I was doing what it likes over the leaves too. I have been doing it at 5pm. Tonight I just did the from the basket down by pouring slowly water over the basket and roots. Tomorrow I will try and purchase its fertilizer and water it in the early hours and spray the leaves with a spray bottle. Thanks tons for your tips. I truly appreciate all the help I have received. Thanks Linda

[CTB]

I don't think there is any orchids that like to go to bed wet, all watering should be done early morning. All watering, misting, hanging in shower, etc needs to be done in the early morning. Night watering I'm sure is the problem. Start watering in the morning so it has the day to dry out.

You can lay the roots in a sink, that has been filled with water, let them soak for about 5 minutes or so. Roots should turn green. Then hang in a light, bright, spot for the day. Besides watering leave it alone for a few weeks and let it adjust. Don't mist or water the leaves. It may lose a few leaves but should pull out of its slump.

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[RosieC]

Originally Posted by skeenski

Thanks Minda
I have been pouring water over the roots with my sink sprayer and thinking I was doing what it likes over the leaves too. I have been doing it at 5pm. Tonight I just did the from the basket down by pouring slowly water over the basket and roots. Tomorrow I will try and purchase its fertilizer and water it in the early hours and spray the leaves with a spray bottle. Thanks tons for your tips. I truly appreciate all the help I have received. Thanks Linda

I often spray the leaves of mine, but ONLY in the morning. They don't like to be left wet overnight and that might be part of your problem. Also if it's still wet at the end of the day (on a cold day) I will try and dry it with paper towel. If it's obviously going to be a cold day I avoid getting the leaves wet.

[Angurek]

Originally Posted by skeenski

Need lessons in watering Vanda orchid and light help. It looks Ok today however one leaf is yellowing some.

Love this beautiful flower it has it has no dirt just a basket with roots in the air. Any help would be good for me to care for this plant. Thanks Linda

Welcome to OB, Skeenski. I'm a former Utahn, so it's nice to see some people from my home state.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Vandas are pretty hard to grow in Utah, in part because the humidity levels there aren't high enough for these plants. There's also the problem of light levels; the dark, wintry weather can take their toll on them, and they will often fail to bloom or bloom poorly (and such weather in Utah lasts for about five months).

Vandas grown bare-root in baskets need daily watering. If not given enough moisture, their roots tend to shrivel up into ropy masses (this takes no longer than two days to happen). It should be getting pretty chilly in Utah about now, so you might want to keep it inside until the weather is milder. Hang it in the brightest room you've got, and either spray it with a water bottle or put a humidifier near it to boost the humidity levels around it. When the weather is mild, you can put it outside so it gets some fresh air. The heat sometimes reaches the triple digits in UT during the summer, in which case you'll probably have to water the plant twice daily to give it the water it needs. If you don't keep the moisture and humidity even, it'll lose roots and drop leaves. I guess the complex setup should hint you that these are not the best indoor plants, and that they aren't very good choices for UT unless you have a greenhouse.

If your plant isn't too big, you can give Vase culture a shot, which would probably be more practical in your situation (more in the linked thread):

Vandas in Glass Vases

[skeenski]

Thank you Thank you this is exactly what I needed to see. I have just been running or pouring water over the roots so they probably haven't taken in enough water and I have been spraying water over leaves.
Hopefully its change in watering will make it happier.
I have been talking to it asking it what is wrong but hopefully it will get happier.

Let me ask another question I have it hanging in front of my kitchen window. Is that going to be to cold for it in the winter? We keep the house 65F at night and 70 to 72F during the day. It will get lots of light when the sun shines but we live in Utah and in the winter it snows and is cloudy a lot. I have new windows that are insultated but I still worry about it being warm enough.

Can you enlighten me on this for this beautiful Vanda that I have named Vandi. Thanks Linda