Vase types for Vanda

[michelle13]

Hi everyone!
I'm new here and just an amateur grower for now with lots to learn I received my first Vanda a few days ago and I bought a cylindrical vase (before it arrived) which was quite large, about 35cm height but it was definitely too small for the plant when it arrived so I didn't force it in. I then ordered a vase which is much wider and I managed to get the roots inside but I'm a bit worried they're too crowded as I've had to twist the vase to get the pre soaked roots in. The weird bit is that the plant has no support to sit upright, it just does so by itself but I'm worried this puts too much weight on the roots. Please see picture attached as I'm not sure I'm making lots of sense right now . I appreciate any advice on this. I would like to keep it as it currently is as I don't have anywhere to hang it but if it's damaging the plant then I'll be on the hunt for a different vase

[KingKong]

The roots will not be affected by the weight of the orchid, it's when you squeeze them in that some might snap.

Unfortunately the rim of your vase is not ideal for what I do which is take a couple of plant sticks and poke them through the holes of the net pot - like this the net pot rests on the rim of the pot taking all the weight with the roots dangling below.

Maybe you can still glue a thin piece of wood across the rim which the net pot could then rest on taking some of the weight off.

Otherwise bigger vase which starts to become expensive so if mine ever get that big I have already decided to use plastic rubbish bins (10l) as pots if it ever gets to that stage. Won't look as good but the Ikea bins are pretty stylish, I have used one as a lamp shade before

[DirtyCoconuts]

i think that is pretty good advice michelle.

Subrosa on here does very cool things with FWC full water culture and plants in vases like this.

Does your growing environment allow you to hang the plant? Vandas in baskets or free ( if you can mist them a lot) are great because they can get big in a hurry

---------- Post added at 04:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:13 PM ----------

i have looked at those slim Ikea waste bins as SH containers too, they are pretty nice but buying a bunch could get pricey quick so i have not purchased any to try

[hypostatic]

Have people tried something like the catasetum PET method for vandas? I'm thinking something like half a 2L coke bottle, with lots of holes drilled for air flow, with the roots in there with no media?

[Roberta]

First, Welcome! (And most of us ARE amateurs... and learn from each other...there is a lifetime of learning, one of the best things about orchids.)

I wouldn't worry about weight on the roots, but if they're too tight in there, air flow is reduced. If you wanted to hold the plant a bit higher, you could rig a support with some fairly stiff wire, which you could wrap around the plant just below where the highest roots start, and then bend over the rim of the vase - do three of these (a tripod is a very stable configuration) and you can then hold the plant up so that the roots aren't crammed in a tight ball a the bottom.

[jcec1]

I grow all my vandas in glass vases - I get mine from IKEA where they are reasonably priced.