Potential Vanda newbie looking for advice

[TylerK]

I'm looking to potentially buy my first Vanda and was hoping to get some advice before I take the plunge.

Of necessity I'm an indoor grower, but I think I still have the conditions to make it work. I'm on the top floor of a tall condo with unobstructed south-west exposure. Light levels range from about 1500fc in the morning to between 3000 and 4000 in the afternoon. For the few hours that direct sun comes through my window the light meter blasts past its 5000fc limit. Humidity in the summer is always >50% and I run a humidifier in the winter to keep it around that mark too. Temperatures in the summer are usually around 25C (77F) though a bit lower inside in the winter. Should this all be sufficient to eventually get it to bloom? I don't want to shell out the cash if it's not likely to work.

Also, I'm unclear on the difference between Vandas and Ascocendas. They always seem lumped together when people are discussing Vandas. Do they have any different cultural requirements? Size difference?

This is the vendor I'd be buying from:
Vanda - Orchids In Our Tropics

I'm particularly partial to the bright oranges and yellows, but are there any in the list that you would particularly reccomend to someone new to Vandas?

Thanks,

Tyler

[Roy]

Froma grower that has some success with these plants, I would suggest Ascocendas. They are much more forgiving in cultural conditions and adapt very quickly.

[peeweelovesbooks]

How about Mokaras? They take a lot more light than Vandas, and they hybrids come in beautiful colors. Check out RF orchids for a quick view of what they sell.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I can suggest these three, they are cool to intermediate growing:

Vanda coerulea
Vanda coerulescens
Vanda luzonica

The names of V coerulea and V coerulescens look identical, but they're not the same species. The flowers do not look like each other either. You can do a search.

Vanda luzonica leans towards being intermediate growing.

Ascocenda is the name of an intergeneric cross between Vanda and Ascocentrum. Most growers just lump them together with Vandas because the flowers are Vanda-like. True Vandas are very unique and many of them are unlike the Ascocendas you see for sale.

Mokaras are also intergeneric.

[TylerK]

Thanks for the tips and advice. Unfortunately my selection is somewhat limited at the moment because I'm not wanting to pay for the papers required to get the plants across the border. Of the three larger orchid growers in Canada that I'm aware of, only the one I linked to carries Vandas, and even there it's limited to hybrid Vandas and some intergenerics (mostly Ascocendas).

It's good to hear though that that Ascocendas are somewhat more forgiving than the Vandas. Perhaps I'll start there. I realize that this might be hard to answer given that they're all hybrids, but generally speaking is there any size difference between Vandas and Ascocendas? I've seen confilicting information on the net....some places say the Ascocendas stay compact, while others say they both get quite large.

Thanks again,

Tyler

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by TylerK

Thanks for the tips and advice. Unfortunately my selection is somewhat limited at the moment because I'm not wanting to pay for the papers required to get the plants across the border. Of the three larger orchid growers in Canada that I'm aware of, only the one I linked to carries Vandas, and even there it's limited to hybrid Vandas and some intergenerics (mostly Ascocendas).

It's good to hear though that that Ascocendas are somewhat more forgiving than the Vandas. Perhaps I'll start there. I realize that this might be hard to answer given that they're all hybrids, but generally speaking is there any size difference between Vandas and Ascocendas? I've seen confilicting information on the net....some places say the Ascocendas stay compact, while others say they both get quite large.

Thanks again,

Tyler

The answer to this question depends on the cross of the hybrid.

[cneos]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

The answer to this question depends on the cross of the hybrid.

While ascocnedas tend to be more compact, at maturity, they can be very large plants. It all depends on the parents (species of vanda or ascocentrum) that are in the plant's background.

Mokara is an intergenerice hybrid containg Vanda, Ascocentrum and Arachnis. Mokara are generally bred for the cut flower trade. They bloom often, with well-flowered, long last lasting inflorescences. They can become huge plants.

[Dene]

Hi Tyler, I have purchased several orchids from Orchids in Our Tropics (The Kennedys) My orchids sit in West and South facing windows and I have been able to get them to rebloom. The orange and the yellows are wonderful - the Kennedys have one called Ken Kone 'Burnt Orange' which is a beautiful Ascocenda. You should also check out Cloud's Orchids in Niagara and in Toronto if you go to Avenue Road (132 Avenue Road?) - there is about 5 flower stores they usually have Vandas at this time of the year

[wonderlen3000]

I purchased a few from the vender before. Try the Ascocenda Su Fan Beauty or Sukumaran Sunrise. Both of them are very forgiving of culture. My growing condition is the same as yours. It's all come down to particular hybirds/breeding. Some supposed to be easy Ascocenda are reletunt to bloom and i have been blooming pure Vandas, at least twice per year.

[TylerK]

Thanks guys. It's great to hear that it will work in my conditions. I'm definitely going to give it a try.