Mimi Palmer- Lava Rock?

[Lizx]

Hi! I just got my first vanda about 2 weeks ago in New Orleans. I handle all the phals at work and my own and I've found the perfect level of neglect vs care for them and now I'm jumping into the care deep end. She's flowering size and has some flowers right now, 2 spent bracts, and maybe almost a foot of leaves? I'm not home so can't get a photo. I have her bare root in an 8" cedar basket hanging outside facing north under a stairwell where she'll get dappled light. I live in a an apartment so not much location, north south west east wise, can be done, but I can adjust how far under the stairway/direct sun she is. I had her peeking out a little behind my begonias and her bottom leaves began to yellow a bit. I've been misting and/or sticking her in the shower 2x a day with water mixed with about 1/16 tsp of 20-20-20 and then dunking 2x a week, once with half strength 20-20-20. We aren't at peak humidity yet (its actually been nice here!) so I'm worried about dry out. Would it be prudent to toss a couple 1.5"-2" ish lava rocks in her basket? Not enough to "pot" her, just something to hold a bit more water

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Many people put bark or cinders in Vanda baskets. Don't mist the roots. That's not enough. Thorougly wet them until they turn solid green at least once a day. This requires soaking for 5-10 minutes when humidity is low, or some time under the shower spray.

Vandas are heavy feeders. Martin Motes of Motes Orchids has written he uses fertilizer solution instead of tap water at every 5th watering, using 20-20-20 or MSU fertilizer blend at one tablespoon per gallon. That is far more than you would use on other orchids.

Sign up for the Motes Orchids E-mail newsletter. You'll get a monthly bulletin of what to do with your orchids from a nursery with a summer climate much like yours.

[Lizx]

Thanks!