vanda watering question
 

I know you are all probably sick of this question, but I really could not find an answer in the archives. Here goes: Can vandas with free roots (no pots) get too much water? I hear from the threads that you can never over water them. I am a bit obsessive so whenever their roots are getting really light I water again. I am in Florida, it is in the 80's and the wind is non -stop ( I live on the bay and put a piece of plexi-glass to help shield them but they still get a lot of air circulation and their roots dry out really quickly) They get plenty of sun and I make sure that I never water after about 4PM.

The plant can take quite a bit of water in your situation. Overwatering won't be a problem for you, it's underwatering because of the winds and heat (also possibly from being tired or lazy).

as long as you don't water too late (I would stop by 3pm lol) you can spend all day watering them, how's your water bill?

I try to water mines now in the hot months twice a day or a bit more often if I get a chance. However I don't water from 11 am to 3 pm. I've been told that it can burn the leaves.

Thanks for the input everyone. :lovesite

I water them usually once a day, but I stand there for like 5-10 minutes per plant. I live in Miami and it's hot right now.

They used to get watered twice daily, but I got tired of my housekeeper messing up my plants so she no longer waters them in the mornings. I water when I get home.

I try to water 2 times per day during weekends though.

My huge vanda is completely bare root and my other semi-large vanda is also bare root. My denisoniana, neostylis lou sneary, ascocentrum are in clay pots with coconut husk chips and they are growing like crazy.

My newest vanda is in a vanda basket--but bareroot. I plan to change it out of the vanda basket as I don't like to keep plants in wooden mounts.


Good luck!!!
:)

Why don't you like the wooden baskets? Are they bad for the vandas?

Right now, with temps in the 80s here in Spring Hill I water the vandas every day (over the winter it was every other day) but when the horrible 90's get here, they'll get done more than once a day. I think the additional sprayings are more of a cool down in the very hot afternoon sun more than supplying it with anything it needs to grow

No they aren't "bad" per se. I think they are the most common way to grow vandas. However, I don't like them because they inevitably decompose over time. And, since the plant tends to wrap itself around the basket, then you are left with two options: 1) plop the decomposed wood into a larger wood basket that's going to decompose, or 2) try to work the roots off of the basket without too much damage. Shrug. I'd rather use a clay pot, hang them bare root or grow them in a pot.

I've recently discovered a potter in my area who does custom jobs and I think I may have him design some type of mount or larger clay basket that I can permanently place my larger vandas in.

I see. Good point. We'd love to see a picture if the potter makes you up something. :photo:

Once a day not enough?
 

I am seeing signs of dehydration (wrinkled, clenched leaves) in my bare-root vandas. I soak them for 10-20 minutes every day (distilled + ferts).
I grow indoors under 600W HPS at 75F and with a cool mist humidifier.

They bloom and grow new leaves, but could I be under-watering? If so, would it make sense for me to transfer these into pots with bark to retain moisture better?

These all have *huge* free root systems so is potting even possible?

Thanks!

10 to 20 minutes is far enough if you soak everyday. Your problem don't come from that. If they get dehydrated you have you increase the rate of humidity, 50 % is the minimum tolerated to get healthy Vandas.
In Thailand, the rules in Orchid farms/nursery (That I apply to myself too of course) about watering Vandas who are always grown bare roots are : soak/water every early morning for 5 to 10 minutes, plants have to get completly dry in 2 hours maximum. Add of fertilizer one time a week.
I really think that you water enough, try to see about humidity.
Hope it will help.

thanks for clarifying that for me :)

I'm at my wit's end with humidity - I grow in a closet lined with plastic and with a cool mist humidifier on full blast within 1 foot of the plants. I run a fan to recirculate air within the space (I don't vent outside the room) I also have the entire floor covered with trays full of water. I guess my options are more humidifiers or somehow seal the room better.

Any advice?

The Vandas do bloom and grow, so it's not an emergency. I just hate to see the leaves growing in so tightly kinked. I recently had to literally pry the top growth apart on my Trevor Rathbone - two opposing leaves were locked together and would have probably killed all further growth if I hadn't intervened. It's leaves are naturally wavy, but not to this extreme. So, I need to do something but have time to consider options. It's older leaves are kind of dehydrated looking.

just found this post and I agree, I do not like the wood baskets. I have 3 that have rotted out recently and it is so difficult to remove the orchid.l Plus that they are heavy and if you place the bad one in a new larger basket, even heavier. They aren't pretty but I am trying some of the black, open plastic baskets for a couple of the ones I removed from the wood baskets. Hope they do well.