Vanda tricolor

[smweaver]

One of the few vanda species I can grow here that doesn't seem to mind the cool winter temperatures in my sunroom. I like the spots, and the fragrance is excellent also.

[Shadeflower]

oh you mention the fragrance.
I just discovered this one recently. I need to do more research.
So nice colors, cool grower and fragrant. Sounds like a good orchid.

[DeaC]

Beautiful. Checks all the boxes for me to add!

[Clawhammer]

Stunning! I've been growing out a very small seedling for a year, this post is testing my patience!!

[DirtyCoconuts]

ever since roberta posted this like 3 years ago it has haunted me.....

i really have no idea why i have not gotten it yet but it eludes me...i think this shall be my main goal at Tamiami show this weekend. that might also save me money if i have only one plant to get LOL


hahaha this post got me so caught up in how much i want it that i completely forgot to complement this one!!! stunning and good enough to inspire tremendous desire

[estación seca]

I bought a tiny seedling from Hausermann's. I've been putting the tiny ones into plastic pots with LECA, and watering frequently. If the roots are long enough I may put it into S/H.

[Roberta]

One of the most cold-tolerant of the Vanda species (not counting V. falcata which I still call Neofinetia)... it does just fine on my patio, so puts up with winter temps of 40 deg F/4 deg C or even occasionally cooler. Would it do better a bit warmer? Definitely. (People who grow in a relatively cool GH do better with it) But it's a survivor. And yes, fragrant!

[DirtyCoconuts]

Neofinetia forever!!!

[Shadeflower]

I was really tempted to get a v. merrillii this week which apparently grows next to it and stays smaller but even the size of the merrilllii put me off unfortunately

[smweaver]

Thank you, everyone, for your comments.

Shadeflower, Vanda merrillii is definitely a warm-grower and nowhere near as tolerant of cool (or even intermediate, in my experience) temperatures as V. tricolor. I finally traded mine after struggling with it during the winter months (it survived just fine as long as I kept it in a warm and brightly lit room, but the humidity was not ideal). And it's a very large vanda when it reaches maturity. The lacquerware-looking flowers, although lasting only a couple of weeks, are, however, incredibly fragrant and (in my opinion) put Vanda tricolor's fragrance to shame. If you get a chance to acquire one, and you can give it the space and year-round warmth that it needs, I don't think you would be disappointed with it.

Steve