Vanda orchid with many old roots - what do I do with them - Orchid Board

Sweet mango · #1 10-02-2018, 05:42 PM

Hello, I'm Sweet Mango, living in Florida. I received a Vanda orchid for Mothers Day. It was in a glass vase, instructions were to water it for 30 minutes and then pour the water out. The orchid did not fair very well. I started spraying the roots until they turned green, every day, and it seems to have helped it. Some of the roots are in a ball and look to be quite old. Some are very long and thin. I would like to know if it is ok to trim the old stuff off, and trim the longer ones back a little.

estación seca · #2 10-03-2018, 03:21 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

In general, don't trim off roots unless you have a lot of experience with orchids. It's very easy to mistake living Vanda roots for dead ones.

How often were you soaking for 30 minutes? Vandas need a lot of water. They should be in continuous leaf growth as well.

Sweet mango · #3 10-03-2018, 10:35 AM

Thank you for the information!! I will not touch the roots except to water with the sprayer. I have been doing that twice a day, spraying until the roots turn green. The core seems to be doing quite well now, and growing. Still have only one green leaf on it, but looks like more will be opening up, I hope!! Again, thank you so much for the info.

estación seca · #4 10-12-2018, 06:14 PM

If you go to the Motes Orchids Web site you can sign up for their monthly newsletter telling you what needs to be done that month. They specialize in Vandas.

Bud · #5 10-12-2018, 09:18 PM

Please do not trim your Vanda roots. The plant needs all the roots it can have. Be thankful you have plenty of roots....others pray for a single one to grow....you inherited a Vanda in water glass culture method. I do that too for certain species. But not all. I grow Vandas, different kinds of Vandas. You have high humidity in Florida, you may grow your Vanda bare root hanging in the wind, yet in the colder months make sure it doesn't feel the frost and bring it indoors in a sunlit window....I live in Manhattan, NY and I can let my Vandas outdoors in the summer but I need to let it indoors on the colder months.
Please post a picture of your plant, if possible its flowers so we may know if it is a hybrid or a specie....a terette or flat leafed...or semi-terette....