Hi from an NYC beginner

[vlhart]

Hi everyone!

I'm a beginner in Queens (though I grew up taking care of my mom's 20-30 orchids in FL). My own collection started like most these days with a Phal hybrid from a big box store that's beautiful and seems really healthy from what I've read and has a good leaf color.

And I've got a tolumnia variegata and a Vanda coerulea supra on order--both are small and a couple years from flowering.

Looking forward to reading everything I can on how to care for these guys and growing my collection!

[RandomGemini]

You are aware that the Vanda can grow to be a 3 foot tall plant, or larger, and that you will need to provide some kind of supplemental lighting, right? Just making sure. I have quite a bit more space than most folks, and I won't grow this species because I don't have room for them and I do grow several oncidium hybrids that get quite large, but vandas are significantly bigger than that and require daily watering, which I don't have the patience for.

Just making sure that someone on the internet didn't sell you a bill of goods that was contrary to what you can provide in your growing space.

Welcome aboard!

[DeaC]

Hi from NJ! Seems you have something small,large and in-between. This is a great forum and welcome.

[vlhart]

Oh, I'm aware they'll be challenges and aren't really beginner plants.

I also have the space for them. I was wondering about the lights and watering though. In my living room I have bright indirect light and south-east facing windows. I get direct sunlight on the sill until about 10a.m.

From what I read, the young Vanda needed "light typical for Phals."

Is what I have enough? I'm not averse to artificial lighting though...

And re: watering. I'm fine with once a day watering, but I'd read that it was more like once a week, letting the media dry between waterings. What do you think?

[RandomGemini]

I think what you read regarding the vanda was incorrect. Vanda are water loving. The Vanda will need very bright, indirect light. You MAY have enough light for it, but weekly watering for a vanda? I've never heard that, not in anything I've read. I've also never grown these from seedlings. I've always read, "Grow them in baskets, or bare root using vase culture. Water daily, in the mornings by soaking the root system and then hanging in their basket to let the roots dry over the course of the day."

Seedlings may be different, but I cannot imagine that weekly watering would be enough, unless you're attempting to grow this plant in a pot, with media. I've read that vanda do best without potting media at all. Hopefully someone with more experience with these will chime in and be able to help you out.

[wintergirl]

I have been growing 2 vanda seedlings and recently placed them in clay pots with large fir bark (with some marbles and styrofoam in the bottom. The roots are a big part of the vanda and can be more controlled in the home in the clay pot method. Brad's Greenhouse on Youtube has a couple videos of vandas in pots. I just water the roots every morning. I agree once a week for a vanda is too little water.

[vlhart]

Thanks RG-- How to pot it was another question I had because I'd read conflicting things as well.

Here's a video:

[wintergirl]

I water when the roots are white. I can see the roots sticking out of the clay pot and the are white in the morning but turn green after I water them.

[RandomGemini]

Yeah... I think that that website is a great place to start looking for information, but you would be better served by looking for the care sheet for the orchid you plan to grow. Charles and Margaret Barker sell these on the internet and they are very, very useful.

Another option for information on a particular species, is simply to search the orchid board here. The people here are happy to talk about their collections and how they grow their plants and how they have success and I happen to know, we have one member who lives in NYC who grows Vanda orchids.

[WhiteRabbit]

Vanda coerulea is not a "monster" Vanda