Watering Vandas - Orchid Board

louis hurn · #1 06-15-2008, 05:09 PM

Hi there! I grow orchids in a shadehouse, humidity good, with nice hot summers and fair winters (sub-tropical) about 1 kilometer from the beach. I have just installed a watering system to the roof with standard Gardena misting heads. My question is this, will this be OK for my Vandas? A friend mentioned that Vandas does not like water on the leaves or buds, I am new to Vandas. I questioned his statement as the shadehouse is like being outdoors at any rate when it rains, but he insists that the flowers will be damaged by the water. Help me please!

Greeting, Louis

Buds! · #2 07-09-2008, 09:12 AM

Uh....SOS! What happened to all the vanda experts?

Hang in there Louis, I'm sure some can help soon!

Weebl · #3 07-09-2008, 11:47 AM

I would imagine that if they are dry by night it will be fine. I have only flowered Vandas indoors in pots though, so I've never delt with water on the leaves.

JennS · #4 07-09-2008, 03:57 PM

I don't think that is really much of a concern for the leaves, but possibly for the flowers. I have never worried about getting water on the leaves or even tried to keep from doing it. I usually water the whole plant, mainly the roots, but give them a little all over. I am not an expert or anything, but i know alot of plants like to foliar-feed (drink through leaves as well as roots), so i sprinkle a little water everywhere.

As for the flowers or buds, I would be careful to not water them much. I know mine have gotten wet before as I grow outdoors in Florida, but I avoid buds and flowers when I water. I don't think it would really harm them much, but it may age them a bit faster. You might want to consider moving the plants away from the misters when they are in bud and hand watering. If you have too many to hand water, then you might want to figure out a system to water/mist them where the roots begin and not from above. That is just my thoughts and if anyone has a more definitive answer then please comment....

louis hurn · #5 07-09-2008, 04:26 PM

Thank you for the replies. The reason I asked is that my first Vanda was in bloom a month ago and the flowers looked quite sick. I thought it could be because I bought the plant with a spike, but this friend of mine convinced me it was the watering. This is quite a problem for me as I grow my plants outside in a shadehouse. The weather is hot and humid here (even in winter). If this seems to be a problem I will consider staying away from Vanda's, that would be a pity as I really love them. Here's a pic of the flower, maybe it would help to see the damage. Greetings Louis

Watering Vandas-vanda-den-sansai-blue-jpg

JennS · #6 07-09-2008, 05:11 PM

I don't think that really looks like water damage. Did the flowers open fully? What type of vanda is that? As for the leaves, they look very healthy and if they were upset they would probably spot. One of mine does have a few blackish spots though, but those are just sunspots.

Do you have the option to move the vandas in bud to avoid watering the flowers?

I have mine outside (I know, I already said that, but just in case...), in Florida which is quite warm and humid, sounds alot like your conditions. The main problems I have encountered are 1. buds that don't open or don't stay open as long as they should because the plant was moved during budding process 2. bud blast which I blame on fumes and I am right next to a road, but could have been something else 3. Not constantly flowering, which I don't think I can change since that is genetic...

You plant looks healthy though other then the flowers. However, if they did open up and flatten out then maybe they weren't even that sickly. Any more pictures of further developed flowers, etc.?

louis hurn · #7 07-09-2008, 05:26 PM

The flower was open for quite a long period and did not look too bad. The spots were light brown. I think our weather is very similar, I live about 2 miles from the beach and we get a LOT of rain. I water with rainwater as well when I water manually. here's a pic of the flower fully open. It is a Vanda Den Sansai Blue. Greetings

JennS · #8 07-09-2008, 06:01 PM

I really don't think that is water damage, especially now seeing those new pics. Hopefully someone will come along with more knowledge of what could have caused that.... I wish I could put my finger on it, but I am still somewhat new to vandas too. I have gotten mine to re-flower, but never quite as grandly as the first flower (which was at an orchid show, so...).

dgenovese1 · #9 07-30-2008, 06:58 PM

Hi Louis,
I am new to the OB Forums, and just noticed your post. Here is my take on growing Vandas and getting water on the leaves and flowers. I have been successfully growing them in a very similar environment, both in my shade house, which is actually covered, and out inside my pool’s screen enclosure. The screening blocks about 35% of the sun's rays.
Water that is continually allowed to get on the blossoms will cause them to fade earlier than if you keep them dry, however I have not noticed any adverse affects to getting the leaves wet, even on a daily basis, which is how often I water mine.
When I hand water I try not to get the blooms wet, in order to avoid botrytis infections, which is a fungus that can affect blossoms with small black spots. On the other hand, I don't worry about our almost daily summer rains here as I know in nature where Vandas are native, they get the same treatment. What I do is I use a prophylactic anti-fungal treatment every 3 months which includes Cleary's 123, which is harmless to blooms and is great at getting at botrytis and other contact fungal infections, and Diathane-45, which is a systemic antifungal that treats other fungal infections from the inside of the plant, so to speak. My plants still get a few spots on their leaves, but they are few and far between.
The only other thing I do special with regards to keeping blooms dry is to keep plants that I am intending to show into the shade house, which has a great circulating fan and a solid polycarbonate roof. This way there are better chances of keeping the blooms longer lasting and spot free.
I hope that this isn’t too confusing to you. If you have questions, don’t be shy.

Don Perusse · #10 07-30-2008, 09:20 PM

David gave you the low down on Vandas. I also live in the south and never have had trouble getting the leaves wet. However, like David said the blooms will last longer and won't get fungal infections if the blooms are not wet. Also water early in the day so they have time to dry out before night time. Vandas are beautiful, so don't give up on them.