New acquisition
 

I think I need a new orchid. I've been pretty careful these past few years to focus on growing what I have well, rather than bulking up on new plants. This being said, I think its time to add to the family :D I grow a fairly wide range of things, and am not afraid to accommodate. I am really leaning towards something in the Vanda alliance. I see all of these wonderful pictures of cascading aerial roots and big, bright colored blooms, and I think I need one. I have an east window that gets direct sun for about 3-4 hours in the winter, and 5-6 in the summer. Will this be enough light to produce good blooms, or do I need to boost it a little with supplemental lighting?

-Danny

Someone who has experience growing Vandas might have a better answer (I haven't grown them... Yet), But I can tell you this..

If I were looking at growing Vandas I'd be concerned that the light levels you mentioned may not be entirely adequate. Do you have the option to grow your plants outside during the summer (under a shade cloth, with time to adapt to the sun) and then supplement their lighting during winter? This is what I do with my light loving plants such as my mango trees and cattleyas. So far, this works great for my orchids and other plants.

I can grow them outdoors in the summer. I live in Oregon, and we don't usually get a whole lot of extreme weather (other than a fair amount of rain year round). I have a few options for supplemental lighting that I currently use for some of my light loving species, the only concern that I have is space. The window is a much larger growing space than the area with the artificial lighting. I know a lot of Vandaceous orchid species can get rather large. If I can reduce the light in the winter, and bring them out at the earliest part of the spring/summer to get higher light, will I still get good blooms? As I said before, I am more than willing/able to accommodate, as I am a slave to my plants ;)

I think you would do well with an Ascocenda or other vanda-like hybrid. And there are so many beautiful choices.

My Vandas loved the summer outside and that has given them the strength to bloom indoors this winter. The flowers are not as big indoors, but the colors are just as bright. They are eagerly awaiting the return of warm weather though!

There are some Vanda types that do not need high light. If you like the smaller Vandas, Vanda coerulescens bloomed well for me even though my window couldn't bloom my Cattleyas. Rhynchstylis gigantea is another good choice. Good luck!

Thanks to everyone for the fantastic input! I think I will taking the plunge after the holidays :D