Vanda bud blast problem
 

I bought my first Vanda last November with two spikes in full bloom. I've really babied it since then and was thrilled last month when it sent out its first spike for me! It now has 3 full open blooms, and the next 4 turned yellow and shrivelled. There appears to be at least 5 more buds coming that so far look okay. Any idea what might have caused it to happen? Our temps have been pretty constant, but could water temperature do it? Or too much / not enough fertilizer be an issue?

If it's been really dry, it could also be thrips.

I haven't seen any sign of bugs of any sort, and she is kept indoors. I was planning on having her outside for the summer, but our weather has been a nightmare this year! I don't know anything about thrips - what should I look for?

It happens to me from time to time. I can not figure it out. If there was some kind of pattern, I might have some theories.
Fortunately, the vandas in question have begun to spike again. One seems better than before.

Be careful what you use on them for fertilizer. One theory is that I used Epsom salts while spiking. I've also heard using soap while flowering is bad news. I don't know, because I do not use soap.

You'll know there are thrips if you see brown rings around the roots. There are other signs but this is the one I look for.

Great member article:
http://www.orchidboard.com/Orchid_pests_and_diseases

Here is a picture of what the little devils look like . Gin

Google Image Result for http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/thrips/greenhouse_thrips_fig1.jpg

Thanks for all the info. I did a thorough check and I really don't think there are any thrips. The roots all seem very healthy and since I have it bare root, its pretty easy to check. The next two buds are going to be okay, one is almost open and the other is turning purple - not yellow!!! There are still three more that are too closed to tell. I'm trying to think back over the past weeks to remember anything unusual. We did have a couple of unusually cold nights and my sunroom changes temperature along with the weather. I also keep the water I use, set out overnight in the same room. Maybe it got too cold. I'll just have to wait and see what happens next. At least the blooms are so big, you can hardly see a gap! Thanks again.

If you want to know if you have thrips or not, just blow on the flower, and you'll see them move around. The ones I've seen down here (Florida) are small, slender, and brown. They almost look like tiny earwigs. I have a lot of roses that they love to eat from the inside of the bud, before it opens, so it's hard to spray for them. I hope that is not your problem, because they are a real pain!

Thanks Jasen - I'll take another close look.