New to Orchid Board and have Vanda question

[Tami Bell]

Everyone, it's nice to meet you. I'm Tami Bell and a new member to the board and Orchid Lover.

I would appreciate advice on Vanda's, I live in zone 10B so I assume, as with most Orchids I can grow them outdoors. Some questions though

1. What type of Vanda is good for a first time Vanda purchase?
2. Can they be grown indoors?
3. What type of growing conditions do they prefer - containers, medium, fertilizer, watering etc.

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me with this.....

[Bolero]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!!! There will be people here who can help better than I but I thought I should say hello.

I hope you enjoy it here.

[Junebug]

Hi Tami,

Welcome to OB! I'm not a Vanda expert but there are different varieties. Some like alot of sun exposure and others prefer less. Their roots do not like to be enclosed in a wet potting medium and they are usually grown in wood slat baskets with large chunks of bark and charcoal. Many growers just suspend them with wire and use no potting media at all. They require good air circulation and like to have their roots misted (until they turn from white to green) a few times a day. They are heavy feeders. Some OB members use a weak dilution of fertilizer multiple times a week. There are different types of Vandas with different lighting requirements. I have only one Vanda. It is a semi-terete and requires alot of sun exposure. Terete varietes can take full sun. Strap leaf Vandas like bright conditions but will get burnt if exposed to direct sun. I've never grown them indoors but other's do. You just need to meet their lighting, temperature, humidity, and air circulation requirements. Many Vandas prefer Florida's heat and humidity, but there are some types that require cooler conditions. Homestead is a great place to grow orchids. A local orchid vendor would help you select the best varieties for your growing conditions.

[Grandma M]

Welcome, Tami.

I don't know anything about growing vandas in Florida so I can't help much. I grow them indoors, under lights, in Michigan. I find Ascda. Princess Mikasa a good bloomer and I also have an Ascda. Thananchai X Aascda. Tubtin Velvet in bloom for the second time this year. It must be a strong grower to perform like that indoors under lights. Growing vandas indooors, under lights, is a challenge but worth it when I see blooms. Marilyn

[Tami Bell]

Originally Posted by Junebug

Hi Tami,

Welcome to OB! I'm not a Vanda expert but there are different varieties. Some like alot of sun exposure and others prefer less. Their roots do not like to be enclosed in a wet potting medium and they are usually grown in wood slat baskets with large chunks of bark and charcoal. Many growers just suspend them with wire and use no potting media at all. They require good air circulation and like to have their roots misted (until they turn from white to green) a few times a day. They are heavy feeders. Some OB members use a weak dilution of fertilizer multiple times a week. There are different types of Vandas with different lighting requirements. I have only one Vanda. It is a semi-terete and requires alot of sun exposure. Terete varietes can take full sun. Strap leaf Vandas like bright conditions but will get burnt if exposed to direct sun. I've never grown them indoors but other's do. You just need to meet their lighting, temperature, humidity, and air circulation requirements. Many Vandas prefer Florida's heat and humidity, but there are some types that require cooler conditions. Homestead is a great place to grow orchids. A local orchid vendor would help you select the best varieties for your growing conditions.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to be growing these outdoors on a covered patio. One area receives about 4 hours of direct sunlight in the a.m. and my other orchards that needed light flourished there.

Truthfully, I'm trying to get away, if possible, from hanging most of them since my husband is rather tall and clumsy (sorry hubby) and he's always bashing his head into a flower basket.

I may take a few on attach to wood and place on a shelf to see how they do.

Thanks for the misting infomration, I mist daily now but will cut back as the weather cools. I'll have to remember to mist the vanda's by my "summer schedule".

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[Jok-Keng]

Hi Tami,

Junebug certainly sounds like a Vanda expert! All the points given are right on. Thailand produces the best Vandas in the world. But Vanda is not really easy if you are just starting out on orchids but it's worth a try. Needs a lot of water but plant cannot be wet, so air circulation and humidity is crucial, which can be difficult for indoors. Repot only when you see good roots otherwise trouble. Enjoy.

[Swamper]

Welcome Tami...you live in Homestead you lucky girl. Go visit R.F Orchids. ASAP ask them a thousand questions. Junebug pretty much covered what they like.
Personally I grow mainly vandas but I have them outdoors. People here grow them easily indoors too even up in Canada LOL so jump right in and get one or one dozen heheheh have fun.

[Tami Bell]

Originally Posted by Swamper

Welcome Tami...you live in Homestead you lucky girl. Go visit R.F Orchids. ASAP ask them a thousand questions. Junebug pretty much covered what they like.
Personally I grow mainly vandas but I have them outdoors. People here grow them easily indoors too even up in Canada LOL so jump right in and get one or one dozen heheheh have fun.

Thanks for the welcome, while living in Homestead makes it very easy to find orchids, I've learned EVERYONE has an opinion on the best way to grown them.

I just ordered the following, well actully the hubby did as a present to me fo:

S Vanda Manuvadee "Blue" FCC
S Vanda Manuvadee Blue FCC
Vanda Penang Currency FLOWERING SIZE
S Phalaenopsis Ching Ruey's Tiger X

So I take a close look at the order and find out the plants will come as dry root - HELP!!!!!!!

Now I really have NO clue what I'm doing.
Hubby tried to get a selection of flowering, adult and immature plants more for learning.

Since I have no idea what to do with dry root orchids, it's time to hit the "books", internet and of course on here....

Any more advice would be GREAT

Thanks
Tami

[JennS]

Originally Posted by Tami Bell

Thanks for the welcome, while living in Homestead makes it very easy to find orchids, I've learned EVERYONE has an opinion on the best way to grown them.

I just ordered the following, well actully the hubby did as a present to me fo:

S Vanda Manuvadee "Blue" FCC
S Vanda Manuvadee Blue FCC
Vanda Penang Currency FLOWERING SIZE
S Phalaenopsis Ching Ruey's Tiger X

So I take a close look at the order and find out the plants will come as dry root - HELP!!!!!!!

Now I really have NO clue what I'm doing.
Hubby tried to get a selection of flowering, adult and immature plants more for learning.

Since I have no idea what to do with dry root orchids, it's time to hit the "books", internet and of course on here....

Any more advice would be GREAT

Thanks
Tami

Tami,

Sounds like you are in the prefect location and mind set to get great at growing vandas. I do disagree slightly though that they are somewhat difficult...that is when you are growing them outside in Florida. Personally, I think they are about the easiest as long as you have time to water at least once per day. I will give you my tips and so far they have proved quite successful with my 15 or so varities.

I agree with Marilyn that said the Ascda. Princess Mikasa seems to be quite hardy and a frequent bloomer. I purchased one in May that was almost finished blooming and was in poor shape. It recovered very quickly once watered daily and fertilized weekly. It is now in bloom a second time with 2 spikes! So, being as it recovered very quickly and bloomed so beautifully, plus all the root growth it put out since May I am very impressed and would recommend it to a vanda beginner.

As for your selections:
S Vanda Manuvadee "Blue" FCC
S Vanda Manuvadee Blue FCC
Vanda Penang Currency FLOWERING SIZE
S Phalaenopsis Ching Ruey's Tiger X

The first two are possibly the same and someone may have mistyped it w/out the quotes. My guess would be that they are the same thing though. However, they could bloom out completely different if they were grown from seed, so they are both worth keeping (well they are all worth keeping in my opinion).
The last one appears to missing the second part of it's name (what it is crossed with). However, they all sound like nice plants, so good job.

You are very correct to, when noticing how many different opinions people have about growing vandas. It doesn't stop there, it is in the whole orchid world, and the whole plant world for that matter. Everyone has different experiences, different growing situations, etc. So, one thing that works for one person might not work for another. Or, sometimes people (I know I am guilty of this) have one bad experience and then get turned off on a particular growing theory and then disregard it. I am not accusing anyone here, just stating what I know I have done before! I have a hard head! LOL... Anyway, what i try to do is take the advice from growers with the most similar conditions to mine and take bits and pieces from their advice. For example, I grow outdoors only brining the plants in when a frost will hit overnight. So, for me an indoor grower has completely different concepts and growing area then I do. Not to say they don't offer me lots of tips and advice, but some of their successes won't necessarily be my success.

If you plan to grow outdoors in South Florida, I would say you have it made. Main concerns would be:
Light
Water
Fertilizer
Peferred way of growing (basket, pot, S hook, etc.)
What to do with them when you vacation

Mine are all grown in bright light, but no direct light other then early morning. I water then every morning. Some people set up a watering system, but I like doing it by hand, and my collection isn't so large yet, that I don't have time. So, everyone morning, I use a 2.5 gallon bucket and water the 15 or so (blooming size) vandas and hit all the seedlings too. Then every Saturday, I water and fertilize all the plants with a water soluble fertilizer (at about 1/4 or so of the recommended strength) and I also use SuperThrive when I fertilize. I just started doing this about 5 months ago, and I think it is helping alot! Also, mine are all in baskets and bare root (unless they are just getting established then I give them a little spaghnum moss to help them get started). I have noticed they don't seem too fond of bark, so once they get into their basket and anchor themselves they are just bare root. Once or twice a week I will water in the evening too, only if it is very warm and still sunny out (about 5PM). As it gets cooler and darker earlier, I will stop all night waterings.

Your plants will probably arrive bare root, or with a small plastic basket around them. Don't bother trying to remove the basket. Just leave them be and water every morning. If they are bare root, you can soak them (30 mintues should be plenty) then gently lace the roots through a basket you purchased (sometimes you can find the wooden ones at HD or Lowe's) and use some twist ties to anchor the plant to the wires which attach the basket to a hook and voila! That's it. By the way, you should go ahead and check for the baskets before your plants arrive so you can get them established as soon as they arrive!

[Tami Bell]

You are AWSOME!! and just settled down my nerves about the new "babies" coming into my home.

My plan is to do this - I would like to have a few indoors to enjoy more often, so I'm thinking about placing the Phala's in my computer room, I have a S. facing window that has glazed windows and a ceiling fan always on low, I think it will be a good environment.

For the cattleya, knowing they need lots of bright light I may also put her indoors with the Phala's, potted and watch how she does, if I notice signs of too much or too little light I'll adjust.

The Vanda's are going on the porch in baskets and may 1-2 on slats attacked to a porch wall. I love the look of that and I think they will thrive outdoors for me.

As soon as I get the babies home and planted, I'll take some pics and put them up on here.

I'm sure as they adjust to the new surroundings and I mess up a few times, I'll have plenty of questions.

Thanks again for all your great advice, I was seriously freaking out when I read they were coming in dry root as I've always purchased already potted at Asian festivals we have down here. You eased my nerves a great deal.