Vanda roots brittle and shrivelled after nightly soak

[guccisimo85]

Yes, I had read about the 1cm band! Do you have any pictures of what that actually looks like? It’s hard to tell on mine - which I suspect means they are not at 1cm yet.

I’ve got mine at 85F day, 65F night. I keep it between 60-70% humidity during the day. My light readings are around 200-250 PPFD from natural sunlight. I also supplement with blue/red LEDs that are supposed to give off around 100-150 PPFD at 12” away. Because they are providing light from behind and they are spread out over all the plants, I would just consider them supplementation. I have struggled to find a light meter that can give me accurate measurements however, especially with the LEDs. I don’t want to spend a fortune on a fancy one that can dial in by wavelength.

Originally Posted by estación seca

Vandas can use more nitrogen than pretty much all other orchids - if the temperatures and light are correct.

Motes teaches that a well-grown Vanda should have a 1 centimeter band of light green fresh growth at the base of new leaves. If you don't see this, your temperatures, light or nitrogen supplementation are not adequate.

Back to me speaking - If your temperatures and light are not correct, no amount of fertilizer will improve things.