What is best potting media type for a vanda?

[Becky15349]

Hi all!

I recently purchased my second vanda, a V. Trevor Rathbone. I realize that I must pot the vanda because I grow on a windowsill and cannot hang it. My ceiling is cement and I cannot put any holes in it, so the vanda must be potted. What is the best media for potting a vanda? I was thinking coarse grade fir bark with no small pieces - what do you think? Has anyone here grown vandas in pots with success? Please share with me your tips! Thank you very much Trevor doesn't want to die, LOL...

Thanks!
Becky

[trdyl]

Your idea should work fine. I have also seen vandas grown in a bark mix similar to what is used for Cattleyas, also charcoal chunks, and lava rock mediums. You also might want to take a look at the following thread.

Vandas in Glass Vases

[wonderlen3000]

Best one is either in clay pot with side holes (no glaced) or wooden basket with heavy broken bricks in the bottom. I use large chunk of barks for landscaping, 3-4" in size as a filler and they work fine for me.

[cabbo]

I have also heard of just using broken pieces of clay pots in a basket ( if you can use a basket)

[WhiteRabbit]

Don't know if a vanda would want the same - but my Ascda. is potted in a clay orchid pot, predominantly medium tree fern fiber, as well as fine tree fern fiber, pumice, and perlite, and some styro packing pnuts.

I once saw a pic of a Vanda 'potted' in what appeared to be a small laundry type basket. (plastic) with bark chips.

[Ray]

I have been experimenting lately with vandaceous plants in PrimeAgra (LECA), but in regular plastic pots and in EcoWeb pots (for more air flow and faster drying), and they seem to love it.

For the EcoWeb pot, I make the sidewall out of EcoWeb, then hot glue it to a plastic flower pot tray to protect the surface it's sitting on. If anyone is interesteed, let me know and I'll add them to the list.

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by Ray

For the EcoWeb pot, I make the sidewall out of EcoWeb, then hot glue it to a plastic flower pot tray to protect the surface it's sitting on. If anyone is interesteed, let me know and I'll add them to the list.

Ray, Do you have any pictures of the new EcoWeb pot for the imaginatively impaired?

[dounoharm]

i keep several vandas in large clay orchid pots....they have the slits in the sides as well as the bottom drain hole....and pot them in large bark, charcoal, and chc....they do fine either on the shelf of the gh or hanging.....

[pedidiva]

I put mine in LECA, clay pot.