I'm new to Vanda's and have a quick question...
 

We just received our first Vanda! She's a Mimi Palmer x Fuchs Delight.

It came in a hanging basket bare root, and I was just wondering if I should put a little sphagnum moss in there, or keep it as is. We've had a mild summer so far this year (zone 6a), and temps are no higher than 85 in the day, 65 at night. Humidity averages 70+ percent.

I have been spritzing the roots several times a day along with my Trichoglottis Brachiata. Is there such a thing as too much spritzing? I have them both hanging from a tree in the backyard during the day, and then I bring them in at night.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Your temperature range is fine and so is your humidity.

At this point you have options...

1. Grow as is.
2. Mount on tree or tree stump.
3. Grow potted.

I've done all three, and the ways I like the best are 2 & 3.

I can't help you with info about your vanda but it's absolutely gorgeous!

I'm terrible about the zone thing,I only know about mine LOL My mom used to kid me that I thought the world revolved around me. Anyway I'll guess it's cold in the winter? If it is I have a feeling that growing it under a tree is fine but not really onto the tree or it's roots will grab onto the tree ( a beautiful thing) but then will freeze and die.
I would not use any moss.
hmmmmm I really need to know where zone 6 is but it sure looks cold... let me get back to you, when I find out :)
PS It's beautiful. Congratulations!!!
Ok I think that you get snow and a lot of cold so letting it grab a tree would not work.
I would leave it just like you have it.
For now wet it really good. Don't wet the blooms or they won't last very long. Use a hose if you have it you know? duplicate the rain, wait 5 minutes and rain on it again. Then let it dry.
Once you get into the cold season you're gonna need to bring it in. I would look at the posts by other members that live up north, specially those incredible Canadians that grow better vandas than me INDOORS. I hate them :) jk.
Anyway, just my opinion

That is a beautiful vanda! And it has some beautiful roots, too. I agree with Swamper, keep it as is and move it inside for the winter. You can't over spritz. So don't worry about that. As he said, don't wet the flowers and they will last longer. The roots can take a lot of water in the summer, so use the hose. Really flood them, then repeat. You can tell when they are getting watered often enough by how quickly the roots turn green when you water them. If it takes several waterings in a row to get that green to come out, then try watering more often. Good luck with your beautiful plant!

I agree with Swamper. Directly mounting to a tree in your temperature zone would be too risky during winter. You could leave them as is, or mount to something mobile that could be brought indoors. I don't recommend sphagnum either. A wooden slat basket works fine. You could put a few chunks of large grade charcoal and bark in them if you wish, but it's not necessary. You're probably going to need some indoor lighting advice for growing indoors in winter unless you have windows with high light exposure. I have no experience with artificial lighting. Sorry.

Man, I guess zone 6 gets really cold. I didn't realized it snowed where you are.

I assumed you were from the southern states in the parts where it didn't snow.

My advice was for the temperatures you gave.

If your area snows, your options are:

1. as is
2. potted

Freezing temperatures will definitely kill Vandas.

I highly advise that you post the state where you live in. It gives us a very good idea of what the temperatures and climates are like. Most of us (apparently, including me) either don't know what other people's USDA zoning is like or only know ours and those who are similar to ours are.

Another thing to consider are SPRING/SUMMER/FALL/WINTER TEMPERATURES AND CLIMATES not just the current one.

The United States is very diverse with a large multitude of macro and micro habitats.

I have to apologize for not being thorough enough with the advice I gave earlier. Lapse in judgement. That's why there are other people on the OB to give their input.

mmorehead is from Central WV, but Mr. or Ms. remains a question.

Well then...that area definitely does snow!

And, daaaang!!! I could only imagine what -9 F (-23 C) in the winter is like (I'm citing Wikipedia on this one as far as USDA zoning info is concerned). Most places here in the LA area don't get anywhere near that cold. Our winters dip down to 36 F at the lowest.

Like I said, you have to bring this plant inside once it starts getting very cold, especially when it snows.

Your particular hybrid of Vanda has cooler growing species that make up the plant. So you should be okay with growing them 55 F to 90 F.

I like that one very much.

I grow my vandas inside year round under high light (Michigan). The amount of light is very important.

Marilyn