Vanda Growth Setback

[aussieboy]

I’ve purchased a vanda tricolor var. planilabris last fall and the orchid itself is not in good shape. It just have one long dormant root and most leaves are covered with black spots. I felt a bit rip-off on that purchase and vowed to never again buy from that seller.

Winters passed and is now spring here in Australia with temperature between 14 - 35C. All of my orchids are either in spike or resuming their growth except my tricolor. I tried watering it often and add seasol which probably is the local equivalent of kelpmax. But none of these seem to work. How can I get it to resume its growth?

[Fairorchids]

You do not tell us how this plant is mounted, potted or ???

If in an empty basket, watering 'often' might not be enough.

I grow all my Vandas in baskets lightly packed with spaghnum/bark mix (4:1 ratio). This keeps moisture around the roots in-between waterings (I water twice a week in winter, and three times a week in summer).

[aussieboy]

Its bare-rooted in a plastic pot. no media. does sphagnum moss help in this case? Will soaking the roots overnight also helps?

[Fairorchids]

Suggest you see notes on my web site:

Fair Orchids

[estación seca]

Bare-root Vandas need a heavy watering every day.

[Ray]

Seasol is not the equivalent of KelpMax, but Kelpak is.

[SADE2020]

My vandas are in barefoot and I water them every day in summer and light spray in winter (depending on weather forecast). Besides, keep them humid enough only when is warm. I give them a deep dive bath for 45min every 7 days with Fertilizer and I add to the fertilizer the Kelpax every 14 days ( 2 weeks) and then Epson salt to that mix every 28 days (4 weeks).

If the Vandas has been in heavy rain or totally cloud days with humidity for more than 3 consecutive days, I cut the Fertilizer and use a very dilute fungicide, and wait at least 4 days to fertilize.

Hope this help, on top of the others suggestion!

---------- Post added at 02:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:00 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Suggest you see notes on my website:

Fair Orchids

Kim, do you refer to Wood Baskets?

Great article, thanks!

[Shadeflower]

Hey aussieboy,
wish I could help but you might or might not have gathered that I just get criticised when I go and figure out what plants need.
In case you hadn't heard yet they need all the products that Ray happens to sell.
So I won't argue with that or give out any advice to contradict it. I will just add my headache of a care case that also had very poor roots. I have even circled my secret to success in blue for you.
Hope you figure it out. The tricolor is a beautiful vanda.

[aussieboy]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

I have even circled my secret to success in blue for you.
Hope you figure it out. The tricolor is a beautiful vanda.

Ive also seen orchidgirl use microfibre on her videos but for seedlings. I’ll give this a go but using a sphagnum moss and see if that works. I envy those new root growths on your orchids. Tricolor indeed is one of a collector’s must have. I’ve heard it has an interesting grape like scent

---------- Post added at 09:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:50 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Suggest you see notes on my web site:

Fair Orchids

Thanks Kim! that was a great read. I’m giving another go with sphagnum moss since its getting drier here and can’t cope up with frequent watering.

The only reason I less prefer sphagnum moss as a media is it being an algae magnet. Some says that algae doesn’t do any harm on roots but some also says you have to remove those slimy algae.

[Leafmite]

Are you using a good quality long-fibered moss and letting it get nearly dry before watering again? I haven't had any trouble with algae with the moss.