Problems with a vanda potted in bark

[Grandma M]

I bought this plant potted in bark. I was concerned about it so I decided to repot it into a basket, bare root.

This is what I found when I dumped it out. There were NO live roots in the bark. I have a pic of the results of massive surgery.

I also have a pic of the re-potted plant. I intend to pull it a little higher in the basket after I finish pulling the live roots, which were all growing outside of the bark, through the slats ins the basket. (There is more than one use for large unused crochet hooks)

After what I found with this one, I re-potted all the new vanda alliance plants which were planted in pots with bark.

I'm sure Kellly's Korner loved my order for both wooden and plastic vanda baskets. I prefer the looks of wooden ones but the black plastic work OK for the smaller plants, and are less expensive.

Marilyn

[smweaver]

Marilyn, it looks like you did a really nice job rescuing your vanda. I grow mine in coarse coconut husk chunks, and they've never experienced root rot. So if you ever decide to go back to trying to grow your vandas in pots again, the coconut chunks might not give such an icky result as bark.

Steve

[Bird Song Farm]

You did a great job Marilyn, it sure looks happy now.
With your wonderful growing skills it will be blossoming in no time!
AL

[thakshila smith]

We live in quite different worlds here in tropics.
There for we can grow them outdoors in the garden .
We just mount them on a tree trunk or wooden post but in a shady place . Roots grow in meters and never put any medium like bark , coconut chunks or charcoal.
some people put them in wooden baskets as you planted in.
But they grow into hudge roots system and meters long.

[Charles]

I use large bark chunk in a wooden basket. In Florida and in my particular area, we experience long periods of hot and dry. Like Arizona at times. I think the extra medium holds just enough water.

But yes, vandas do not like pots unless they are spartan with medium. I have a few, but I let and encourage the to grow out of the pots.

[Bird Song Farm]

Charles, sure wish we could grow Vandas up here, I've only seen a few in green houses where they seem to be on permerment display! I just wanted to mention that your avatar is beautiful!
Al