Is my Vanda ill?

[Izobel]

Hello everyone!

I got a Vanda as a present a few days ago. I love it already, but something bothers me. The stem is quite brown at some places and a few leaves seamed to drop before I got this Vanda. I can also see black spots on the stem itself, see the photos. Now I read that Vandas can get a stem rot, caused by a fungus. Does my Vanda has this pest and what can I do about it? The roots and flowers look fine. The Vanda hangs near a few Phalaenopsis, could a disease be contagious?

Thanks a lot!
Izobel

[WhiteRabbit]

I'm not a Vanda expert ...
I suspect some water may have gotten trapped in the leaf axes, maybe during cool and/or damp weather, causing some rot, which might, or might not spread. The third pic is what might concern me, tho it may not necessarily be highly worrisome. You might try some ground cinnamon (being careful to keep it away from those beautiful roots!), tho hopefully some members with more Vanda (and disease) knowledge than I can be more helpful!

[estación seca]

It has not been getting enough water. The leaves are somewhat wrinkled. When they are water-stressed or cold-stressed they drop leaves. Sometimes the leaves turn yellow before dropping, and fall off one by one, if it is slow dehydration. Sometimes they turn brown in larger numbers, if it is long-standing dehydration.

It does look as though it might have fungus.

Healthy Vandas need to have the roots completely wet at least once every day. The lower the ambient relative humidity, the more important it is to water them a lot.

They need warmer temperatures than most orchids. Too-cold temperature invites rot. They will suffer with temperatures much below 12-13C / 55 F. If temperatures drop below 10C / 50F, they often lose most of their leaves suddenly.

They also need more sun than most other orchids. I would think winter in Germany would be a challenge for most Vandas.

Try giving it as much light as possible, and keep it as warm as you can. Every day dip the roots into water until they turn from white to dark green. This may take 5-10 minutes at first. It is safe to water the plant as soon as the roots turn white again.

[bil]

Again not a vanda expert, but if mine looked like that I would assume that iit was fungus. I would treat with a strong fungicide. The black bits at the bottom would worry me.
Like White rabbbit said, water in the leaves and too cold is the most likely cause.

[Bud]

Give the plant more light and warmth. If you are boiling something put it a couple of feet from the steam for added humidity or invest in a humidifier. There is a need for antifungal spray. I think you have a Vanda Pachara hybrid. It is a very forgiving plant and can undergo lots of abuse. But it is giving you an early warning signs....don't let it worsen its situation.

[Izobel]

Thanks a lot for all your answers! My Vanda now has a place in the kitchen, south window and it's warm in there. I mist it every day and they get a bath every second day. Unfortunately, some more leaves have dropped. I picked the Vana up for its bath, and suddenly two leaves dropped. Then I noticed that the crown looked a little bit crooked. I was able to pick the crown leaves off the plant with almost no force at all. Every leaf that fell down was brown and mushy at the base.
My plan now is to get a fungicide (I put some cinnamon on the bad parts but I want to get something more potent) and care for the plant as best as I can.

Izobel

[estación seca]

When the crown leaves are rotten, the plant almost never recovers. Often cold, underwatering or insufficient light stress Vandas to the point they become susceptible to rot.

[Irielicious]

Originally Posted by estación seca

When the crown leaves are rotten, the plant almost never recovers. Often cold, underwatering or insufficient light stress Vandas to the point they become susceptible to rot.

Could this be fusarium? I don't know anything really about vandas other than the very basic things...

[Izobel]

I have some news, guys. I called the person from which I got the Vanda as a present and asked her if she still had the receipt. She had, so I went to the shop today, where the Vanda is from and described the issues. I took the plant with me, so that they could have a better look. The vendor said that it was indeed some kind of fungus. He said that he would take my old Vanda back so I could choose another, healthy one. I did just that and I'm a happy owner of a new Vanda. The bottom leaves are a little droopy, I was told to bath it when I get home. I was said about the old one, but it was dying. I was lucky to have had such a friendly and accomodating vendor. I attached some pictures of the new Vanda after it's first bath, it is similiar in appearance to the old one.

Izobel

[Irielicious]

Originally Posted by Izobel

I have some news, guys. I called the person from which I got the Vanda as a present and asked her if she still had the receipt. She had, so I went to the shop today, where the Vanda is from and described the issues. I took the plant with me, so that they could have a better look. The vendor said that it was indeed some kind of fungus. He said that he would take my old Vanda back so I could choose another, healthy one. I did just that and I'm a happy owner of a new Vanda. The bottom leaves are a little droopy, I was told to bath it when I get home. I was said about the old one, but it was dying. I was lucky to have had such a friendly and accomodating vendor. I attached some pictures of the new Vanda after it's first bath, it is similiar in appearance to the old one.
Izobel

Wow what good news that you were able to get a new plant! I would make sure you clean everything and anything the old vanda was near really well. Fungi has a crazy ability to make tons of spores that move so easily with the slightest air movement.

I also spray my shower really well with lysol let it sit for the time it says to kill 99% of germs before I put my plants in there to shower them etc. I'm so happy you can now fully enjoy your plant without feeling like you were already setup for failure with a sick plant! I look forward to seeing updates once it gets bigger!