Vanda crown growing to the side, not straight up

[Lilly B]

I've never been to Fairchild Gardens and I hear that it's beautiful. I'll see if that fits into the schedule this weekend.
Glad the toothache is gone.

Thanks for all the help. Will post pics soon.

[Swamper]

I'll be there Volunteering at thee South gate on Sunday. I will probably go Friday too just to look at all the fun stuff.

[beanluc]

Originally Posted by Lilly B

The problem is that the crown is not straight. I decided to put her in a Vanda basket and place it where the sun was directly overhead so that it would right itself. I'm not sure that that's working.

Lilly,

It will work eventually.

The part which is already curved over isn't going to straighten out, but as it grows and adds length and height, the newer growth will seek the light.

You can see from pictures of my own V. coerulea, it's apparent that this one has twisted itself all around in its time! A couple of years ago I had it indoors, so it grew sideways toward the window. Now I have it outdoors much of the year, and indoors a lot of the time too, and I just keep turning it every couple of weeks. Now it more or less grows straight up, and continues to get more upright as it grows.

[Lilly B]

Swamper - If I get to go I will be sure and use the South entrance. It would be great to meet you!

beanluc - your Vanda is so nice and big. The leaves are huge by comparison. Mine are short, small and very tight at the bottom. I'm surprised the spikes found a way out. I'm very patient with plants so I'll keep trying to find the perfect spot (lots of help on that from Swamper) and see how she does. Hopefully she'll turn out as nice as yours. Thanks for the help.

[Lilly B]

Here's an update. Her spikes are finally free of the leaves and enjoying the sun. The new root is growing nicely and the new leaf also looks healthy. I've attached pictures.

[beanluc]

Originally Posted by Lilly B

My yard is all sun and finding a place where she can get full sun but not between noon and three will be difficult.

I had a similar situation some years ago.

I bought a cheap trellis-type thingy, and arranged a crossbar at the top perpendicular to the plane of the trellis. So, the top edge of the trellis and the crossbar formed an "X" parallel to the ground, at about 7 feet height. Over this "X", I arranged a square of 70% shadecloth.

The trellis itself provides a convenient hanging spot, and the shadecloth is an effective "parasol" when the sun's very high.

[Lilly B]

Thanks beanluc. That sounds interesting and not too complicated. I've been thinking a about making a shady area for the Cattleyas and Vanda where the sun is still overhead but not burning. South Florida is very hot, especially in the summer. Where do you pick up shadecloth? Is it like a gauze material?

[Swamper]

Congratulations, that looks really good. Are those ants on the spike? If it is you may want to spray for thrips or your blooms may disappoint you.

[Lilly B]

I was going to ask about the ants. I've been taking them off with a Q-tip with water on it but of course there are more of them every morning. Do I spray the whole plant or just the spikes?

I was also wondering if Vanda spikes support themselves or do you need to stake them so they don't fall over. On my Phals I prefer the look of the blooms cascading so I never stake them but with the Vanda I wasn't sure if the weight would break the spike.

[Swamper]

I spray the whole plant, leaves, roots, top to bottom. Whenever I don't spray, which I do miss sometimes, I am guaranteed nasty blooms. The Q-tips won't work because the bloom tips are producing sugar so they will keep coming back.
You don't need to stake the spikes. That's done for appearance. I doubt that nature makes a bloom or inflorescence that would brake off from it's weight.