Goofy Vanda just wont give it up.

[Junebug]

I've posted this Vanda before. She's a Noid originally received as a cutting that has never bloomed for me. She grows leaves (5 this season) and roots (11 this season) and small spikes (just produced her 3rd) and even a mystery bump that I suspect was the beginning of a keiki, but it's been on the plant for months with no change what so ever. I've included an updated photo. The 2 little original spikes have remained the same size for the last 3 or 4 weeks. She gets fertilized every week, watered twice a day, and is currently receiving about 6 hours of direct sun exposure. Do you think she'll ever bloom????

[dgenovese1]

Hi Junebug,

Maybe she's just waiting for the right time of year.

When I first purchased my V. lamellata var. boxalli, it was in bloom. Several months...maybe 6 to 8...it set out 3 little spikes that just sat there doing nothing. Then when December came, marking a year since I bought it, the little spikes just shot out and bloomed like crazy. As it turns out, my V. lamellata var. boxalli blooms every December. Most years it sends the little spikes out early, about 2 to 4 months before it actually blooms.

That's my theary about your plant...I guess only time will tell.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by dgenovese1

Hi Junebug,

Maybe she's just waiting for the right time of year.

When I first purchased my V. lamellata var. boxalli, it was in bloom. Several months...maybe 6 to 8...it set out 3 little spikes that just sat there doing nothing. Then when December came, marking a year since I bought it, the little spikes just shot out and bloomed like crazy. As it turns out, my V. lamellata var. boxalli blooms every December. Most years it sends the little spikes out early, about 2 to 4 months before it actually blooms.

That's my theary about your plant...I guess only time will tell.

Thanks for the encouragement. The Central Florida weather conditions might also be a factor. In late spring we had a six week drought and for the last several weeks there's been several afternoon thunderstorms and a tropical storm causing overcast conditions for many hours each day. This is not my only peculiar acting chid. I've got a Catt. who usually produces multiple blooms in Jan. or Feb. This year she showcased a solitary bloom in July. This single bloom was a real shocker and lacked the usual substance/form and color intensity of her previous blooms.

[Swamper]

How long ago did you get it as a cutting?

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Swamper

How long ago did you get it as a cutting?

4 years ago.

[Swamper]

WOW you deserve a gold medal for patience!!! Do you know it's blomming history from the person you got it from?

[Junebug]

The Ex-husband clipped it from his mom's gorgeous specimen. She grew her's in an old 5 gal. bucket with a little rain water and chunks of charcoal. It had several fully developed keikis and blooms all over the place. It was sprawled all over her concrete back porch. I remember that she was very proud of it and she mentioned it was special and rare. It might be a JVB. If not, I'm quite sure it is part JVB. When I received it I just thought it was pretty and knew it was a Vanda. Pretty basic stuff, Huh? I'm trying to grow it in the same conditions she did...minus the bucket. I don't remember what time of year her's was blooming. It may have been fall. I checked out the new growth today and it does look like it's a 3rd spike developing. If all the spikes survive and reach maturity I should have a grand specimen. If it ever develops keikis I plan on mounting one to a Palm tree.

[Swamper]

I called Bob Hatos for help, he asked me if the cutting had ever flowered. Apparantly, as a general rule on vandas, the keikis need to grow and flower before they should be removed from the mother plant. Other wise it will take a lot longer. He suggested more light even after I told him yours is getting up to 6 hrs, maybe it still isn't enough.
Good luck.
PS. Personally I love vandas even without their blooms but 4 yrs is more than I could stand.