Vandopsis lissochiloides & Vanda pumila ?????

[peeweelovesbooks]

Hi all.


Maria here (the crazy and orchid-instatiable girl she is, ahem......) is thinking of buying a one flask of each of the above-named orchids. She is thinking of purchasing them from this ebay guy from out of the country.


Maria and I checked IOSPE, and several other web sources. They seem to be interesting plants. Huge, but interesting. HUGE, but scented....at least the lissochiloides.

In any event....I wanted to check if any of you vandaceous experts grew these and what you can share with us about the plants. IOSPE says the lissochiloides is huge..... and that both are scented?

If you own these, can you share pictures/growing tips, culture or any other information? I appreciate it.

I try to control her, but Maria always sneaks in orchid purchases and such when I'm asleep. SIGH.


Thanks and happy growing!!!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Well...the first bit of business is not about growing the adults.

If you've never grown Vanda seedlings out of flask before, consider these the more straightforward orchid seedlings to grow.

I don't recommend growing Vanda seedlings the way you would grow Vanda adults. They need to be protected. Especially if you plan to grow them outdoors.

Vanda seedlings cannot take high light like the adults do. They need to be grown shadier.

I also don't recommend the use of moss as a medium for the compot. They will rot. You're better off with a seedling mix.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Well...the first bit of business is not about growing the adults.

If you've never grown Vanda seedlings out of flask before, consider these the more straightforward orchid seedlings to grow.

I don't recommend growing Vanda seedlings the way you would grow Vanda adults. They need to be protected. Especially if you plan to grow them outdoors.

Vanda seedlings cannot take high light like the adults do. They need to be grown shadier.

I also don't recommend the use of moss as a medium for the compot. They will rot. You're better off with a seedling mix.

Thanks KOOG!!

Do you recommend growing them in hydroton as seedlings? So, treat them like other delicate seedlings, no?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've never grown seedlings in Hydroton. I can't give you an intelligent answer about it at all.

Yes, grow it like other seedlings that DON'T belong to the Stanhopea group of orchids.

I just posted a ridiculously long answer on the growth cycle of Stanhopea, Gongora, Coryanthes, Acineta, Peristeria, Sievekingia, Spathoglottis and whatever the heck else Stanhopea related. These grow differently.

Good luck. The only Vanda seedlings I've grown were of Vanda jennae. They were pretty hardy. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough experience with them. I learned a lot from the experience though.

I think you'll be okay.

[orchideric]

Dear Maria,

Save yourself much woe. Call Martin Motes and see if he still has a clump of Vandopsis lissochiloides in his garden. If so, get a division from him. They are slow growing and typically have to be 5 feet tall to start flowering. Start with a significant beginning.

Andy's Orchids should have Vanda pumila. Keep it a tad shadier than other Vandas as I don't think it likes quite the heat of most commonly grown species.

Odds are you will have better luck growing those and then subsequently generate your own seed/flasks.

Hope that helps, Eric

[Psyched]

Vandopsis is indeed a slow growing Vanda. An expedition team of Indonesian botanists to Sulawesi noted that this species can be found growing near river bank, growing as lithophyte or terrestrial. These orchids are huge, some can be found 3m (9" long). Most of the time the old bulb can no longer support such height, it fall down and slowly growing vertically again giving appearance only a few feet tall from ground floor.

I personally have 2 plants in my garden with one being recently acquired and roots not nearly establish.

One is growing in terracotta pot with mix media of coconut husk and limestone rocks. On top of the mix, I scatter leaf compost to keep the moisture. After 8 months, it finally grow just two new leaves. Currently this one is about 80cm tall (2'5"). Might take a loong while till bloom at least it's already acclimatized.

Another one is the newest purchase and currently being accilmatized. This one is very tall almost reaching 4' tall with a spike but not very good roots. The leaves are very thick and waxy. Already cut the spike so the plant can focus on establishing root. I know it's a tough decision. As the vendor told me it can grow big on soil mix, I plant this one on soil/compost/volcanic sand mix in a plastic pot. Hopefully it can replicate the soil of Vandopsis original habitat.

I attached picture of its habitat. Credit goes to Mr. Rahmat of Anggrek mailing list.

Wish you luck with the flask.

[rastafouni]

I do have those 2 plants. I don't have them for long time but they are completely different.
Vandopsis lissochiloides , as Psyced said , is a giant size orchid and it comes from all year round hot climate. It likes full sun. At first, I gave it all day long sun as for Vanda teres. But I noticed that the plant's colour was turning yellow. Now it has half day full sun and seems to enjoy it. I had the plant in very bad condition with no roots and cutted leaves. The plant is ok now and it is really a BIG plant. My plant :



Vanda pumila (now Trudelia Pumila) is a very small plant
who comes from mountains, that's mean this specie sould not receive high temperatures and winters should be cool nearly cold for a tropical orchid, let's say like V.coerulea. This plant doesn't like full sun but needs bright light.
My plant :



Hope those infos will help you.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Hi all,

Thank you for sharing your experiences and for your suggestions. I was able to locate a BS plant from a nursery in California and I will be getting the vandopsis from there. The blooms look absolutely stunning.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

Hi all,

Thank you for sharing your experiences and for your suggestions. I was able to locate a BS plant from a nursery in California and I will be getting the vandopsis from there. The blooms look absolutely stunning.

Cool. If you don't mind me asking, would it be possible to share where they are? I find it easier to buy local plants, I've been searching high and low for Vandaeceous species of a reasonable selection and good quality, but it is hard to find here in the Los Angeles County area if not downright impossible. Many of the local specialized orchid nurseries here are gone.