My first Vanda!

[varda.elentari]

I bought a Vanda lamellata today, my first foray into this genus. I've read the very limited info I could find about this species online as well as the threads on this forum. I know it needs high light and is best grown in baskets. I'd appreciate any other info or tips.

It was potted in a mix of bark and sphagnum which seemed too wet. I'd like to grow it in a basket or mounted eventually but I didn't have the supplies on hand and I thought it best to repot promptly so I potted it in in bark in a mesh pot to allow more air around the roots. Will that do for a few months or should I get that basket pronto? Or would this species do well mounted in a terrarium?

Thanks in advance!

[estación seca]

Your current potting arrangement should be fine long-term. You will probably need to water every 2-4 days depending on your conditions. I would not try to grow a mounted Vanda in a home. Even daily watering would not be enough. If you have time the vase method works well. Search here for "Vandas in glass vases." Member jcec1 uses this method.

[jcec1]

That's a very nice colour.

[varda.elentari]

Thanks jcec1.

Thanks for the tips estación seca! I was wondering how it would fare in my low humidity if I were to plant it in a basket or mount so good to know I can keep it in that pot. How dry should I let it get between waterings? And should I mist the aerial roots in between?

[estación seca]

Every time you water, make sure the entire root system turns from silver or white to green. This may take several applications of water. Then let it get almost dry. If there's plenty of air at the roots it's OK if they don't dry completely, and it would be fine to water daily. I wouldn't mist, I would water.

[varda.elentari]

I see. Thank you!

[varda.elentari]

My Vanda has finished blooming and I'm somewhat confused by how much water it needs at this point in its growing cycle. Should I water as usual to encourage vegetative growth or hold off a bit until new roots/leaves appear?

Also I'm not sure the plant is liking my "usual". I've been watering twice a week, soaking the mesh pot in water for about 15 minutes. The bark becomes quite dry (not absolutely bone dry though) between waterings so I wonder if I should be watering more often? I've read Vandas like to dry quickly after waterings but how long do they like to remain dry? And how quickly is "quickly"? 30 minutes or 1 day? Because I also wonder whether the bark isn't drying fast enough after watering.

[estación seca]

They don't like to stay dry. In large bark I would water more often.

[Shadeflower]

Vanda's seem to like to drink a lot but their roots don't like staying too wet so that is the challenge, water them too much and something starts to rot, water them too little and leaves start to shrivel.
I give mine a good spray once a week and let the roots dry completely but one root is always wrapped in a layer of loose damp moss and I make sure this moss stays damp at all times. I'd estimate that my vanda's get 1/4 of their water through weekly spraying and then they drink 3/4 more by sucking it out of the moss.
Once every 3 months I check the root under the moss is ok, if it is degrading I move the moss to a different root.

Like this I achieve the drying out between watering and the plant can never dry out completely.