Bare Root Outside in Tropics - Vandas?

[Liberia Orchid]

Hello, been viewing for months and finally joined and would like to thank you all for the excellent advice and suggestions as I start with my first orchids. I am in Liberia, West Africa, with typical tropical weather – hot and very humid all year, (rainy season June to November and dry season December to May). Got these orchids last October with no identification other than they are “vandas.” Please help ID if you can. They are all outside under the patio.

Broad leaf – did not do well in pots (coco husk, charcoal, etc.) and I finally abandoned all efforts to pot and succumbed to hanging bare root under the patio with bright indirect sunlight and they are flourishing, with big, fat, long roots and lush leaves, but no blooms yet. I may need to start slowing shifting them to more sunlight to get blooms?
• Water Every Morning: spray liberally until completely wet and all roots turn green. Wait at least 1 hour or so, then spray liberally again until completely wet. Done for the day.
Broad Leaf Vandas on Iron Gate (bare root outside).pdf
Broad Leaf Vanda on Wire - morning sun (bare root outside).pdf
Broad Lead Vanda on Pole (bare root outside).pdf
Broad Leaf Vanda on Wire - evening sun (bare root outside).pdf

Terete leaf (Papilionanthe?) – Much slower growth than the broad leaf (got them all same time) and I am still confused by these because research suggests should be potted in medium or in the ground (a la Miss Joaquim in Singapore) but that did not go well for me – so I have them balanced with rocks in plastic containers with many holes in bright indirect sunlight. No blooms yet, but am waiting to see good roots before attempting any other moves.
• Water Every Morning: sit each in its own water for a couple of hours, then remove. Done for the day.
Terete Vanda 1 (on the rocks).pdf
Terete Vanda 2 (on the rocks).pdf
Terete Vanda 3 (on the rocks).pdf
Terete Vanda 4 (on the rocks).pdf


“Every Morning” has been 100% of the time so far and have not had to skip – coronavirus bonus working from home . . .

Please let me know what you think about my routine and what may need to get them blooming.

Here is photo of terete daily watering

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!!!
I think that you have the growing techniques working for you very well.
These are relatively small plants I think so just need some time to get to blooming... orchids teach patience.

You didn't mention fertilizer. While orchids use it very efficiently (and don't need much) they do need some, and Vandas tend to be heavy feeders. Part of that comes with their bare-root growing preference... fertilizer doesn't have a lot of opportunity to stay with the roots long enough to get absorbed. (In a pot, it's easy to get buildup, bare-root most just runs off) In nature, they get tiny amounts of nutrients every time it rains and detritus washes down from the canopy. So that's a hint... if you can put a small amount of fertilizer (like maybe 1/4 of whatever it says on the bottle) in the water that they get each day or whenever you water, you'll be coming close to what they would get in the wild. That might help accelerate the growing, get them to the point of blooming.

[Keysguy]

Welcome Liberia!!!!!!!!

I grow in a climate almost identical to yours. I grow in Key West, Florida which is almost the last island in USA before you get to Cuba.

I like what you're doing but add some food as Roberta suggested.

Here is a link to the website of Dr. Martin Motes who is considered one of the leading Vanda breeders and growers in the world. He is here in FL. When you are on his site, he has a great section in there called "This month in your orchid collection". Great advice in there.

Motes Orchids

Feel free to PM me if you have more specific questions.

Have fun.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

[Liberia Orchid]

@Roberta: Your posts are among those that I search and read and learn so much from during the last year. Thank you so for much all the great advice and suggestions.

@Keysguy: Yes, all Motes stuff form part of my research and early understanding on what to do for orchids. Thank you for the reference.

@estacion seca: Thank you for the warm welcome.

I fertilize once a week using same watering method and rotate every week with stuff I make myself because easy and cheap and no access to commercial fertilizers here.

• Fish: approximately 2 lbs raw fresh fish - no cleaning, just beat up until in small chucks left to sit in 5 gals water for at least one month, longer is better. Dilute 1 to 10 or so before use
  
• Manure: approximately 2 lbs dried cow manure left to sit in 5 gals water at least 2 weeks, longer is better. Dilute 1 to 10 before use
  
• Epsom Salt: 1 tablespoon per gallon water, use as is
  
• Milk: 1/2 cup whole milk per gallon water, use as is
  
• Urine: earliest morning pee in a jar, diluted 1 to 10 (this may be controversial, but it is self-manufactured and works awesomely. I put is on everything – jasmine, hydrangeas, roses, birds of paradise, bougainvilleas, and now orchids

[Ray]

Let the milk spoil before you dilute it for application. The lactobacilli will stimulate growth and help protect the plants from disease.

The supplier in Taiwan I used to import cymbidiums from used that as the only nutrient.

[Liberia Orchid]

@Ray: been using fresh milk to boost calcium. But wow, if allowing to spoil a bit will stimulate growth and protect I'm all in and will start leaving milk out before use - do you have suggestion on how long to leave out? I'm thinking at least a day. Seems the longer some organic fertilizers sit around and spoil, ferment and rot the better. . .

Thank you for this and all your other numerous helpful post on this board!

[DirtyCoconuts]

welcome- i like what you are doing!

your only real threat with the bare root is if they dry out too much, the larger, established vandas are all really tolerant but little ones need a little help.

I don't know if you have a dryer season but watch out then and good luck


welcome!!

[Liberia Orchid]

@DirtyCoconuts: dry season just beginning with little or no rain but humidity extremely high (90-100%) every day. I plan to keep to same program of watering thoroughly each morning and leaving them alone. But your point is well taken and will keep eye out if need any adjustments in watering as high heat, high humidity and bright sunlight all day kicks in.

Your posts are those that I researched for months and enjoy your wonderful photos and great advice. Thank you!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Liberia Orchid

@Ray: been using fresh milk to boost calcium. But wow, if allowing to spoil a bit will stimulate growth and protect I'm all in and will start leaving milk out before use - do you have suggestion on how long to leave out? I'm thinking at least a day. Seems the longer some organic fertilizers sit around and spoil, ferment and rot the better. . .

...long enough to let it stink.

That’s all I can contribute, as I have not done so myself, but use formulated probiotics, instead.