Vanda Outside ?

[renatedorrel]

I live about 26 miles east of Los Angeles. Perfect weather right now. Does anyone have any thoughts about me growing a Vanda outdoors? I am tempted. I have about 20 orchids inside under lights.

[Dorothy]

I moved your post here for more responses ..
Also check out this forum - http://www.orchidboard.com/community/vanda-alliance/
and Outside Gardening - http://www.orchidboard.com/community/outdoor-gardening/

[Uechi]

There is absolutley no reason why you can't grow your Vanda/s outside in the LA area. I grow mine in a screen pool enclosure almost all year long only bringing them in when the temps go below 55-60 degrees. I know LA is drier than Central Florida show you may have to water your Vandas more often. In the winter I water mine at the most twice a week. In the summer I water every other day although you could water everyday. It is pretty hard to kill a vanda with water if you have it hanging in a well draining basket. Be mindful of how much light your plants get and how hot it is and you should be good to go.

[renatedorrel]

Thanks, Dorothy, for moving my post. And thanks, Uechi, for your encouragement. I am going to an orchid show this coming Saturday. They have a presentation on Vandas.
I'm still having trouble getting around on this website. It is expansive!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I used to live in Diamond Bar right next to where Diamond Bar High School and the 57 Freeway are. And I grew Ascocenda Princess Mikasa Blue outdoors all season long. In fact I tied it onto my father's nectarine tree. Within a month or two the roots were clambouring all over the trunk and in the air. Because I was only home once a week at the time, I couldn't take care of it the way it should've. The leaves grew magnificently and the roots were silvery green, but they didn't bloom. Some of the roots were attacked by scale insects of some sort. It was a great plant, I had to let it go when we sold our house in Diamond Bar. I'm not sure if the current owners of the house still grow it. From what I heard, they chopped down many of the fruit trees my father grew. One of them may have been the nectarine tree with the Ascocenda on it.

Hope this is an encouraging story despite it's unhappy ending.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I forgot to mention. I wouldn't start growing just any Vanda outside here in LA. Grow the cool to intermediate growing ones.

Ascocendas are a sure fire bet. Vanda coerulescens and Vanda coerulea are winners to grow outdoors here. Papilionanthe vandarum and Papilionanthe pedunculata I've grown outdoors here very well if you can provide strong indirect sunlight for half the day.

No Mokaras though. I've grown Mokaras outdoors a couple times. Never worked once. They are far too warm growing. Same goes for any Vanda cross with Vanda sanderiana (Euanthe sanderiana) or Vanda sanderiana itself, they're strict intermediate to warm growers.

Warm growing Vanda species don't tolerate the cold or sometimes near freezing winter night temperatures we have here (36 degrees F to 45 degrees F).

[renatedorrel]

Thanks, King, I appreciate your help. Last Saturday I went to Norman's Orchids in Montclair and listened to a presentation on growing Vandas. Surely you must have been there before. Then I went to look at the Vandas, and a nice man suggested the Princess Mikasa 'Sapphire'. Imagine that!!! None of the plants was in bloom, and they actually looked kind of pitiful, with many of the roots dried out. Anyway, I hung it into our Datura tree where it gets just the right light. (I also bought a mini Cattleya). I only have a few plants, so I can afford to baby them, especially since I am retired.

Have you ever heard of glass culture? I saw a gorgeous Vanda coreulea in Germany in a Thai restaurant. The owner had it in a very tall glass vase; the plant was somehow attached to the top of the vase, and you could see all the beautiful roots.

I am so impressed with the number of plants some of you own and the knowledge you all possess. Makes me feel very small!

Until another time, Renate.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Ha, ha! Small world. Yes, I've been to Norman's Orchids a bunch of times. If you mention Asian guy and acting, Norman will know exactly who you're talking about.

But I've never grown my plants in glass. Nor have I seen orchids grown this way in person, so I can't vouch for what I don't know.

I'll bet the Vanda coerulea was beautiful though!

Another time Renate.

Philip

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Actually maybe it was Eric I speak to all the time...Oh, well, I believe he's the middle brother.