Help with Vanda
 

Hello,:waving
I would really like some help, i was given a blue Vanda for a present it is in a wooden basket which is then in a big glass vase (as shown below)

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...Photo-0107.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...Photo-0108.jpg


But i need some help with caring for it, how often should i water it as it doesn't have any compost and again how often should i feed it (and will an ericasiouse feed be ok for it diluted?).
Any advice would be great because it is such a beautiful plant i don't want to kill it.

Thanks for any advice any one has :)

Hi Tanira,

Vandas do very good without compost, so do not worry about that. Actually, I would say they prefer having no compost :) The only "problem" with this kind of culture s the watering, requiring daily misting. However, you have already the first step to make your life easier: Keeping Vandas in the glass vase, would require from you to water the plant only twice a week. Preferably early during the day, fill the vase with water until it covers the roots (a little bit of the plant is also fine, but do not abuse ;)). Let the plant that way for about 10 - 15 minutes, and then discard the water (be carefull not to wet the upper part of the plant too much!). In order to help with humidity between waterings, I have a ball of sphagnum moss in a piece of nylon panyhose place in the bottom of the vase. It absorb enough water and help with the humidity (this help in case you forget to water the plant twice a week ;))

Vandas require a lot of light, but be carefull with direct sun, as the vase can act as a magnifying glass and burn your plant quite easily!

I'm not used to the Vanda in a glass vase, which might be better for drier climates in where you live, but I think the glass vase might be a little too tall, unless you can provide a fan to blow air into the vase for air circulation. The Vanda you have is an epiphyte which prefers airy conditions, so if you don't provide enough air circulation in that vase it's likely to end up as a rotten wet mess.

ekkk:yikes: im quite scared of the rotten wet mess i keep it miseted most days by taking it in the bathroom and leaving it in there whilst i have a bath/shower then leave it in there whilst it cools naturally not to shock it. I can keep a fan on it for a part of the day to increase air circulation.... but its very dry conditions in england and at the moment its winter ...... light is very dull so im doing my best with it ( i hope), what about feeding?
Sorry to be a pain and thanks for all the advice given have taken it and given it a water already as directed.

This time of year in GB, you can probably put it in a south-facing window with no protection from light whatsoever, and it will be fine.

Confirming what others have said, it's a lover of light, warmth (do NOT let it get cool at night - never below 15°C), air and humidity. When in active growth, it is a relatively heavy feeder. However, they are mighty adaptable, too, so if you water and feed it regularly, it should do fine. Make sure the water is at room temperature when you dunk the plant.

As far as feeding is concerned, most orchids prefer an acidic fertilizer (pH of upper 5's to mid-6's), but it is generally good to avoid very high nitrogen formulas (In the US, there is a brand "Mir-Acid" that says it's for orchids and other acid-loving plants, but at 30-10-10, your plant will grow like a weed, but will hardly bloom). Divide 13 by the %N on the fertilizer label to get the grams per liter to use this time of year; you might go as high as twice that in the summer if you transition the thing gradually to full sun.

When you dunk the plant, you'll see the velamen on the roots turn transparent, showing the green parts of the root. Let that be your key - when the roots have turned white again, it's time to rewater.

Awww thank you so much every one you have all been so helpfull. I know feel a little more confident with it am heading out now to get a diffrent type of feed for it as the one i have i don't think is quite right.
Thank you all so much:blushing:

Living here in florida, I have never seen a vanda in a glass vase! Of course, it rarely gets below 40 degrees here in the winter where I am. All mine get watered daily year around. My advice, and dont take it to heart since we are in totally climates, is to let it get plenty of air movement. When summer comes and it is warm, I would definitely take it out of the vase. I love that color. It took me some time to find mine.

it may be my imagination but the colour seems to go really dark once watered.
If i take it out of the vase what do i put it in? (that may sound a really weired question because of course they can go into pots and stuff) its in my bedroom so never gets below around 15 i doubt and when heating is on it gets to 21. It's not next to the window as the radiater is below it which means it would forever be going from hot when the heatings on to cold because of the window when the heatings off.
It has a little wooden basket which the roots are kind of tied to but they are massive so i couldn't just leave it dangling? any ideas?
i sound so stupid but i really want to take good care of it.:blushing:

Hi Tanira,
Welcome to the wonderful world of OB! I am glad you have found us! We are a group of orchid fanatics :definition-a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm for orchids :biggrin:!

With regard to your vanda, there are a few options:
1. Growing it in a basket- with/ without growing medium. This method is great if you have a very humid environment, ie greenhouse or if you live in the tropics.

2. Growing it in a vase. There is a member from GB (telipogon) and he has introduced me to growing vandas in a vase/ container. This method keeps the roots moist and the surroundings humid for longer periods- it is like creating a mini greenhouse.

I soak my vandas once/ twice a week and mist everyday, this is because it is very HOT and DRY in Aust. You may only need to mist once every 2- 3 days, and soak once a week, depending on your conditions.

I am not sure about your vase at the moment becase the leaves should be out of the vase, so that it has space to grow.

I also agree with what others have suggested with temps, light, humidity and ventilation.

I have 2 vandas and they are doing great, one living in a vase and the other in a bucket.

Have a look at these links:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ass-vases.html
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...lamp-vase.html

That is my :twocents:

Keep us posted!

Not to sound morbid... but I think it might be a good idea to only put the roots area in a vase, the rest of the plant seems to be quite squished! Reminds me of kitten Bonsai:

http://gamesnet.vo.llnwd.net/o1/game...01495_main.jpg

Or Betta Vase! (also a horrid thing)
http://www.bettatalk.com/images/betta_in_a_vase.jpg

Do they really grow the plants in those vases? Or they just destroy the leaves shoving it in that glass vase? I'm not saying you can't have a vanda, but it hurts to see one bunched up like that!