Watering Vandas

[dvespertilio]

Hello, Louis: I also live in NE Florida in the USA. It is not quite subtropical like South Florida, but most of the year, except for a few weeks in the winter months, it is quite warm and only intermittently humid. I have grown vandas and ascocendas outdoors off and on for a number of years. Much of what dgenovese states is true, but I actually have been able to do without using fungicides most of the time and have been quite successful controlling such through good clean cultivation practices. As is always said, it is best to water vandas before noon so they might dry off before dark. Try to avoid getting water on the flowers and buds, and certainly don't get any fertilizer on them. Getting water on the flowers certainly does shorten their life, but a certain amount of that is unavoidable. Also, if the growing area is away from major auto traffic areas that helps as ethylene gas from auto exhaust accelerates the senescence of flowers. You mentioned being about two miles from the ocean. That shouldn't be a problem unless there was a big storm and salt spray was carried that far inland. I have seen vandas growing in sheltered areas within a few hundred yards of the ocean and they appeared to be doing fine. Here in NE Florida there are intermittent periods of very dry and hot weather, so daily watering is an absolute must. I water frequently and heavy. Also fertilize regularly as vandas are fairly heavy feeders and will respond, over months of time, to regular applications of fertilizer. Some growers apply dilute concentrations of fertilizer with every application, but given my growing conditions, I don't do that, only when it is warm and very humid and watering is not a problem. You don't want to burn the plants with fertilizer applied under too dry conditions. Sounds like you have high heat and humidity nearly year round. That's great for vandas, they love it. Just keep at it, Louis. You will succeed! Vandas are pretty tough and actually will thrive like weeds if given the tropical/subtropical conditions they desire. They can also take quite a bit of cold, too, more than the books allow for, as I have discovered from experience. They do stop growing when this happens (down into the 40's F in my case), but bounce right back with only minimal side effects and, of course, obvious cessation of flowering.

Good luck!

[louis hurn]

Thanks, That makes sence. My problem is that I grow them in a shadehouse. We get a lot of rain over here, in the daytime as well as at night. To try and keep them dry at night is not easy. I wanted to take all my plants and mount them in trees in the garden, but now I'm not so sure anymore. The flowers on my plants are not to good at all, maybe too mush shade? Greetings, Louis

[JennS]

Do you have other types of orchids growing and flowering happily in the shade house? Vandas can take and need more sunlight then most of the other types. If you have some that are growing well in there then I woudl suspect they need more sun (unless those types are also the high light loving type).

How many vandas do you have? It does rain here too at night, but mine are a little bit sheltered by the overhang off the roof, so I don't know how much direct rain they get at night. I do see how that could pose a problem though because if water is sitting on the buds it could lead to rot or virus or fungus, whatever. Is there any other option of a place to put them when in bud?

[Uechi]

I live in Florida and have quite a few Vandas mostly species. It is almost impossible to over water a Vanda when it is hot. I never had a problem witb flowers being damaged by water nor leaves for that matter. Your target in watering Vandas is to get their roots good and wet. The roots should go from a silvery color to a greenish color. There is very little risk of damage from water unless yours is very alkaline or acidic and I mean very. Don't water late in the day which increases a risk of fungus and you should be fine.

[Swamper]

Sounds like a lot of great advice. I too water my vandas a lot twice a day, once in the morning between 6 and 7 am and then again around 3 pm if its sunny not over cast. I also water them again 15 minutes later which is when the roots actually turn green. When it rains all night then I skip the morning. I do avoid manually wetting the flowers but obviously I can't stop it when it rains. Oh yes some are directly growing on trees, some are in baskets and some just hang off branches. I was told that if I do see any form of fungus due to constant rains,to treat it with physan (spell check) so far no need for that.

[Uechi]

I agree Swamper I don't deliberately water the flowers either and I water twice a day also, usually 8 am and 2pm of course it depands on how hot it is and how humid. You could very easily water more than twice a day and do no harm. As you know Vanda's are pretty hardy and get wet at all times of the day ( sorry no umbrellas in the wild except for leaves ) but watering late is asking fungus to come visit. That's true for all orchids

[louis hurn]

I don't have a lot of Vanda's, about six, quite a lot of Catts, some Phals, Meltonidiums, etc. None really flowering very well, though it is of course winter over here. It is still hot, but not as humid as in summer. My shadehouse is facing South and ony gets heavy sun in the afternoon. The nothern side is against the house and quite shady. I do have an ideal spot in the front garden with nice shady trees, this is where I am considering to move them to.
Louis.

[JennS]

If the Catts and Phals (esp. the Phals) are donig Ok in the shade house, the Vandas probably do need more water.

I agree with both Swamper and Uechi about watering. I water every morning before work (about 7-8AM) and as many days as possible I sneak home during my lunch break and hit them again. The morning water is always heavier though. About once a week I add some fert. to the water and then every Saturday all the 'chids (all kinds) get ther fert. So, the Vandas get it twice a week, but it is more diluted the second time. I don't know if I really need to dilute it, but I think better safe then sorry.

Anyway, if your area in the front garden is sunnier than your shade house, then I think trying them out there is a good idea.

What is the name of the 'chid you showed in the pictures on page 1? Do you ahve any other pics of vandas in flower that have any damage? Maybe it is rain, but who knows if it could be something else? Good luck!

[Jerry Delaney]

I have never grown Vandas outside and never grown anything in Flordia. Back in the Mid-West, I grew a fair # of Vandas and used an automatic spray system so they were watered every day. As the watering nozzles were directly overhead and put out 3 quarts/minute, everything got wet (including me if I was under them). Never had a problem with water getting on the leaves, buds, or flowers. I don't know about insect pests in Flordia, but with all your rain and high humidity perhaps mites aren't a problem. I have seen similar damage caused by thrips. Have you checked for these?

[dgenovese1]

I just thought that I'd throw another cents worth in...I'm following pretty much the same advice givien by Swamper, Uechi and Jenn...water once in the early morning (a double pass with about 15 minutes between water applications) and then a second time in the early afternoon, usually between 1:30 and 2. During the winter months when it is cooler out, I only water once in the mornings.
Swamper, given the details you supplied, it sounds like we have taken notes from the same grower.