Potting vs Hanging Vandas? - Orchid Board

Cindy K · #1 03-12-2007, 10:36 AM

Went to a great orchid show on Saturday and came home with 2 Vandas! They are not blooming and in tiny hanging plastic baskets. My question is would it be better to pot them or leave them hanging with bare roots? I saw some beauties at a garden centre a few weeks back and those were in big clay pots! What kind of growing media would you use in a pot? Would humidity be higher in a pot? (My house is pretty dry) Would an orchid pot with holes in it be better? Also, do you put plant food in the water when you mist or dunk the roots on a Vanda in a basket? Sorry about all the questions but I did have a Vanda about 3 years ago and it didn't make it! Would be heartbroken if the same happens to these! Thanks!
-Cindy K

TOMD · #2 03-12-2007, 10:56 AM

I, have a V. Pakchong Blue, bloomed one time for me in the wood basket. i misted it every day.done well for a while. then the leaves started to yellow and it looked pretty bad. thought i was going to loose it. i sprayed it well with insecticidal soap and potted it in a large clay pot it is growing now and putting on new leaves looks very healthy.i planted it in a good potting media that had bark and charcol in it.might not work for others but it worked well for me. GoodLuck . TOMD

Don Perusse · #3 04-11-2007, 11:03 AM

I have never seen an Ascon/Vanda planted in a pot by a vendor, only in private collections. I have about 8 in my collection now and all are in hanging baskets. However I did put a spag. & charcoal in the basket to increase the moisture some. I have never had a problem with blooming. I do spray every couple of days and everyday during the heat of summer. Housed in greenhouse during winter, outside shade house in summer. Vasco Pine River Blue usually blooms twice a year. I live in zone 8b, SW GA where humidity is high. Should you decide on a pot, good luck, let us know how you do. Yes, I do fertilize "weakly" after I water.

cb977 · #4 04-11-2007, 01:22 PM

Hi Cindy...vandas are not meant for pots, although some members of the vanda family do okay. I have some mounted, as well as in baskets and hanging with nothing at all. Vandas like their roots totally drenched and then totally dry...you can't accomplish this in a pot

Vandas need lots of light and LOTS of water. They need to be misted till the roots turn green at least once a day (here in the FL heat, mine get done a few times daily). These beauties do not have pseudobulbs to hold the water and nutrition they need so we, the slaves, must provide it for them constantly.

If you have the time to care for them , vandas are very rewarding

Gin · #5 04-11-2007, 04:27 PM

I have one Acocenda (in bloom) in a pot with coco fiber which holds no water, the rest are in baskets with large bark to hold them upright several are bare . as Sue stated water till the roots are green . One of the problems potting them is if you have to remove the plant from the pot .. root damage .. they really don't like to be repotted . Good luck with it . Gin

smartie2000 · #6 04-11-2007, 05:56 PM

I know that is isn't exactly the same, but similar...
My Neostylis Lou Sneary is in a pot with coconut husks and chunks and sphag moss on top. The plant is not on the same level as the pot but rather elevated above the pot. It looks like it's on a hill of sphag moss

Matthews · #7 04-11-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindy K

Went to a great orchid show on Saturday and came home with 2 Vandas! They are not blooming and in tiny hanging plastic baskets. My question is would it be better to pot them or leave them hanging with bare roots? I saw some beauties at a garden centre a few weeks back and those were in big clay pots! What kind of growing media would you use in a pot? Would humidity be higher in a pot? (My house is pretty dry) Would an orchid pot with holes in it be better? Also, do you put plant food in the water when you mist or dunk the roots on a Vanda in a basket? Sorry about all the questions but I did have a Vanda about 3 years ago and it didn't make it! Would be heartbroken if the same happens to these! Thanks!
-Cindy K

Good luck! There are lots of experts here to guide you in the right way.

Cindy K · #8 04-12-2007, 08:26 AM

Thanks for all your responses! Since I have two Vandas, I decided to try both methods. I put one in a hanging clay candle holder that had lots of large holes in it! The other I put in a very tall clay pot. In an attempt to give the roots lots of air, I wired the little Vanda basket to the rim of the pot and put a bit of moss on top to hold the moisture. I only put a few beach rocks in the bottom and the rest is empty so the roots can hang down. The pot is about 16" tall so there is quite a bit of room. Other roots are hanging over the rim of the pot. So far, so good with both of them. Quite a bit of new root growth! I am finding the standing pot method easier to maintain but the real test will come when I put them outside for the summer. Lookig forward to seeing some blooms!!!
Thanks again,
Cindy

Shadow · #9 04-12-2007, 08:48 AM

Good luck with your experiment! Don't forget to tell us about results.

Pupka · #10 04-20-2007, 04:06 PM

I've heard some vandas can be grown in vases. To water, they just fill the vase with water for about 20 mins and they drain it out completely. Some put bark inside. I'm also waiting for my vanda to arrive this week, and I don't know should I put it outdoor until fall. Outdoor is great providing good natural light and air movement. But too low humidity...