New Vanda Orchid owner - Orchid Board

skeenski · #1 10-07-2010, 06:36 PM

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

CTB · #2 10-07-2010, 07:40 PM

I love my vandas and here what I do, mist the roots daily, I water till they turn green, (when they are green they are taking in water) during winter water once every 2-3 days. Strong light, can take morning full sun, keep warm , never below 50, fertilize once every 10 days. Enjoy! Welcome to the Orchid Board, didn't know where to answer, did you post twice?

boyong · #3 10-07-2010, 10:46 PM

vandas are an easy grower just give them lots of water and light and feed it weakly weekly

RosieC · #4 10-08-2010, 05:30 AM

Welcome to Orchid Board

As Carol said, if they are bare root then water every day until the roots turn green, a bit less in the winter.

I actually grow mine potted which many people find more difficult, but in my enviroment it seems to be working. I still mist every day on the surface until the surface roots turn green, those in the pot just get what dribbles down from that.

skeenski · #5 10-08-2010, 12:13 PM

Thanks Rosie. I at least know how to water now thanks to you. Where do you live? I am in northern Utah gets really cold here.
It is raining today and I wanted to hang it outside but it is only 49 degrees is that too cold to hang it outside for a little while? Linda

skeenski · #6 10-08-2010, 12:16 PM

Probably posted twice as I don't do computers and don't know how to do this at all. Just learning about posting as well poor orchid doeosn't have a chance with me learning everything. No one to teach me either kids that know are in Tenn and Cal. So I am a grandma just figuring stuff out.

skeenski · #7 10-08-2010, 12:41 PM

I live in northern Utah we have to heat the house a lot in winter if I water every two or 3 days in winter will that be enough water for it with heat drying it out?
Thanks for all of your help My newness is showing I know. I don't want this orchid to die it is so pretty.

What do I do when we leave for a few days to visit the kids in Calif or 2 weeks to Tenn to visit the kids? How will it survive? Thanks again Linda

RosieC · #8 10-08-2010, 03:37 PM

Your temps are probably too cold outdoors for a Vanda. I've brought mine inside as it started getting down to that at night.

I would probably advise that if the roots are really drying out (they will go pretty silver with no trace of green) then it might need watering more often even in winter.

It's difficult for me to say though as my experience is with a potted Vanda and while the roots on the top dry daily it still holds more moisture lower down.

It's an interesting question about going away, and one I was faced with for my mounted orchids over the summer. For a couple of days you should be fine, just put them out of bright light and they will cope, give them a really good water before they go.

Again because my vanda is potted I was able to just soak that (something I rarely do) before going away for two weeks. Hopefully someone else will be able to advise how they deal with bare root Vandas when going away, if you don't get an answer on this thread maybe try starting another one to ask just that question.

skeenski · #9 10-08-2010, 03:46 PM

Thanks Rosie

I have it in a south window but 1 leaf is really yellow and another starting to yellow. What might cause this? Do you know? Thanks tons for thehelp Linda

RosieC · #10 10-08-2010, 03:53 PM

I'm not sure i'm afraid. If it was just one it might just be an old leaf, but if more are going it may indicate something it's not happy with. Unfortunately I'm not sure what.