Triming vanda roots

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by dgenovese1

Hi Kat,
Jenn is correct in her assertion that watering every 2 to 3 days is significantly less than ideal, although I have heard other growers tell me the same thing, so don't feel that you are alone. Some of your tricks you're using might be helpful, but from your initial description, your plants are suffering some.
I borrowed my Vanda watering regime from nature, where they grow naturally in forests that receive rain on an almost daily basis, plus from growers like Dr. Martin Motes and Michael Coronado (VP of RF Orchids), both of whom have been growing and breeding vandaceous plants for decades.
Dr. Motes recommends watering the roots thoroughly, early each morning (until there is runoff from the roots), wait about 10 to 15 minutes, and then water thoroughly again. With healthy plants, the first watering will moisten the roots...turning them from white to green (the velum root covering actually opens its pores during this stage and the chlorophyll in the roots becomes visible), the second pass with the water actually gives the plants their drink, with the water passing through the pores to the root hairs in the center of the velum covering.
Dr. Motes says that this watering technique...the double pass...is sufficient enough to mimic the long daily rains that these plants receive in their natural environments; furthermore he states that this is even more important for species varieties.
I have enough plants to water each day that I just start at the beginning of the line, and when I am done, I start back at the beginning and do it a second time...this does the trick for me.
As for your growing area Kat, the only tip I can suggest is to see if you can move the plants you have under your vandas so they won't get over-watered, and give it a try with more frequent watering on just the vandas. They will certainly improve on their roots...thus giving you more blooms!

My plants dont have any trouble flowering, some do it twice a year. Also these roots are not dead because they often branch to produce several strands coming from the main one. The only trouble is they are so thick, Im talking ropes, that when hey are touched to tie or even bunch together they crackle and snap at various points which is a freaky thing when your dealing with some of the expensive ones, especially species.

[JennS]

Thanks David. I have been watching that thread too, but I didn't really think about applying it to this particular vanda because it does have some really nice, thick (and healthy) roots around it's base. Just some of the long ones are really long and get skinny at the end. My other ones don't really get skinnier, they stay thick all the way down. I guess I will have to re-read and see if there are more tips for me! Thanks again!

[dgenovese1]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

My plants dont have any trouble flowering, some do it twice a year. Also these roots are not dead because they often branch to produce several strands coming from the main one. The only trouble is they are so thick, Im talking ropes, that when hey are touched to tie or even bunch together they crackle and snap at various points which is a freaky thing when your dealing with some of the expensive ones, especially species.

Kat....I know what you mean by "a freaky thing"!
I try to make sure I've given mine a good watering before I tie roots together or manipulate them in some way. After watering I also wait at least 10 minutes. This way they are about as flexible as they can be before I mess with them.

[Morningstarorchids]

we trimed ours, the shade house had gotten to be where you couldn't walk through it any longer, But make sure if you do that the roots you trim are dead. or you could damage the palnt and stunt the growth.

[nancy]

Originally Posted by JennS

Nancy, oh my gosh! Did I read right, you removed about 4' of roots? DId it hurt? I mean you, not the 'chid?

Hi Jenn - yes, sterilized the big kitchen shears and clipped them straight across. And yes, it hurt!
However, two weeks later, the newest roots at the base are as fat as a pencil, and the cut ones have lots of new tips, so I think no long-term harm.
Now, if it would just put out some flowers, I'd be a happy sadist!
Regards - Nancy