When to Unpot a Vanda?

[D&S Mabel]

I own a number of vandas, all of them acquired already bare rooted in baskets - the most common way of growing vandas in our weather conditions.

I recent bought two vandas that actually came in pots and I am unsure how big these should be before I also move them to baskets barerooted.

This V. Tricolor suavis is in a 4" pot, is 10" wide and about 7" tall. Looks big enought to me. Yes?


This V. luzonica is in a 2" pot, is 3" tall by 4" wide. Seems alittle small yet. Yes?


In either case, what should I be looking for in deciding when a vanda can handle being unpot and grown barerooted?

[SP2340]

Hmmm. I'm curious too. I've always bought my Vandas mature.

[JennS]

In my opinion, they both look ready for a basket. I have one small one that I put in a basket recently and for now I have a little spaghnum moss in there just until the roots get anchored through the basket. I think if you are planning on watering them every day they will do fine if moved to baskets. I started with a very small basket so that the plant is somewhat stable. Then I used some twist ties to secure it to the wire hanger in two spots to keep it from wobbling. I did this after soaking it so that the roots were pliable. I then threaded the roots through the basket holes and put in some moss, twist ties, and voila! I don't have a picture, but I think you get the idea. Let me/us know if you have more questions.

[dgenovese1]

Hi D&S,

I think that both of your plants are ready to be un-potted and put in baskets, based on my experience.

I have bought several small bare root plants (slightly smaller than the luzonica you described here), and put them in 4" wooden baskets right away. They are all doing well, with lots of new roots and leaves; the smallest one now is twice as big as when I received them in 4/07, most have tripled in size.

More recently, (8/08) I took several very small plants out of a compot I had been growing...they are about 1 1/2" tall and wide...and placed them in 2" plastic baskets. I have placed them in a rack under my other Vandas, so they get watered every day, and also have slightly higher humidity being just above a bed of rock. I've been feeding them the same as the others as well. They seem to be doing quite well, and several of them are already beginning to show signs of new root development. Here are a couple of photos for you to see what I’m talking about.

I hope this helps with your decision.

[growme]

I have a friend who simply hangs hers on an S hook and it seems to constantly bloom. Others, further south here in FL wire them to trees. I have two rather small ones and recently decided to take them both out of baskets and let them hang freely worrying that I'd later have roots entwined around baskets I may not want. I am a newbie regards to orchids but decided to give this a go.

[unhappykat]

They can be unpotted and put in baskets at anytime in their life spans, it just matters how much attention you are willing to give them, the smaller the plant the more often you will have to water. You can just leave them in the pots and sit them in a basket, allowing them to consume the basket as they grow larger.

[JennS]

Yes, you could do the s hooks as well. My only problem with these, although I like the look of having the roots hanging freely is that sometimes they don't provide even support. I have one vanda that was grown this way that for some reason developed most of it's roots off to one side of the plant so it hangs slightly crooked. Not a big deal to me, but some people have commented on it. At this point though it has about 3-4' of roots, so I think a basket is out especially since they have alot of branching.

Anyway, point being, that the sooner you make a permanent decision of how to keep your vandas the better off they are because they can start getting acclimated to their new homes.

[Swamper]

:iagree:

[*Trouble*]

Great comments, thanks. My baby vanda's are now coming out of the perlite mix they're currently in and going into baskets... as soon as I can find some.

[D&S Mabel]

Mine too. Thanks all!