What is wrong with my Vanda Pachara Delight??

[JanetOS]

I bought this vanda pachara delight 'Pachara' in January at our local orchid show. It has not put out any new roots all summer, unlike the rest of my vandas and the leaves look shriveled. Any ideas??
I have found no bugs. There is some spotting on the leaves, but looked like sunburn to me.
Thanks.
Janet

[Swamper]

The leaves look a little like maybe they have sun spots. They look a little thirsty? How often are you watering them? Are they getting more.. sun/shade/water then the others?

[JanetOS]

I water twice a day, at least. It does look thirsty, and no matter how much I water, it still looks thirsty. I have moved it all over the place in the back where there is more sun, to the front, less sun. I am just at a loss. I decided to go for less sun, more shade for now, because it isn't gonna bloom unless it lives!!

[Swamper]

I read that a good way to treat a distressed vanda was to hang it upside down and move it to a little more shaded area.
I'm not sure it is distressed though from the pics. I couldn't really see the root tips. I also believe it is getting colder in your area. Are you south or north MS?
PS That shade of green on the leaves are fine. I just dont know about the texture. Are they soft and saggy?

[JennS]

I had one vanda that looked the same way, and no matter how much I watered it and soaked it, nothing helped. I think it's roots had become obsolete, because I don't think they were taking up water or nutrients anymore. I didn't have a choice in what to do because one day, I bumped the baket, and the top of the vanda just fell right off! I could see that the stem where it broke was very brown and so I decided to cut the base of the plant until I got to green/live stalk. Personally, if it hadn't broken on it's own, I would have been too afraid to try cutting it like that, but I didn't have a choice. So, I ended up treating the cut with cinnamon and then wrapping the base with some wet spag. and using a paper towel and twist tie to secure the spag to the base of the plant. At that point, there wasn't much base left. However, a couple things must be noted, I live in FL and have a longer growing season and this was done a few months ago. Since then, I have gotten it to produce three new roots, but until the first root took off, it was slow growing....

So, I would be nervous due to it being nearly September to cut the whole thing down and lose any possibly viable roots. I would also be concerned though that you might lose it over the winter if nothing happens soon.... So, I would recommend doing a similar type thing, but instead of cutting the plant down, i would just try wrapping spag. in a few places on the stalk and watching to see if anythign happens. Don't keep it soaked, just damp (I used to hit the spag. balls with water every AM, but only because it was so hot outside in FL). I would say do this and leave it for a week, then check underneath to see if anything has happened. That's just my two cents though.

I also have heard, what Swamper said about the upside down thing, but have never tried it. I would advise keeping it in slightly lower light then normal to help induce more roots.

Perhaps someone will post about some success with rooting agents and vandas too. I would wait to get as much advice before doing anything too drastic. However, I don't think the spag. ball experiment would be considered drastic, however cutting into the plant would. I will pull up the link to the old post for you that I made about my re-rooting experience. Good luck and keep up posted!

[JennS]

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...rooting-s.html

Sorry for the delay... I got distracted looking at other posts of mine! LOL...

[JanetOS]

I am in south MS. The nights have been around 50, although probably around 60 or 65 where I have the vandas. I have never heard of the upside down method, although I might could've saved another vanda in the past if I had.
I think I may try the method you used JennS to get it to put out new roots before winter sets in. The healthier it is now before the cold comes, the less stress it will go through in the winter.
Janet

[JennS]

Janet, I posted the most recent pics I had with me in the other post (Vanda rooting ?s). Let me konw if you have more questions. I wish you the best of luck!

[JanetOS]

Jenn,
You have been a great help. I had read your posts before about getting roots to start on vandas, but didn't really relate it to my vanda. Sometimes it just takes a fresh perspective on orchids to solve the problem.
I am going to start the process later today.
I hope my progress goes as quickly as yours did.
By the way, I did try the vase method for a couple of weeks also, but that didn't help, probably didn't wait long enough.
Thanks again.
Janet
Janet

[Soonix]

Hi all,

I have a Princess Mikasa Blue that was doing the exact same thing and it was losing a leaf a week or 2 . When it upgaded to dropping 2 leaves a week I decided to cut of all the roots. It had 2 live roots left and I went out on a limb and moved it to "experimental water culture". I am pleased to anounce that there has been no further yellowing of leaves, but it has only been a week. and the leaves are not as wrinkled anymore. If you wish i will keep you posted on the progress and I will post some pics later.