Ascda. Blue Tahourdin 'Bronze Grape' - Page 2 - Orchid Board

Bolero · #11 02-22-2011, 04:36 AM

Nice gloss to the leaves, great looking plant.

alsorchids · #12 02-25-2011, 05:53 PM

Your vandas look super! Those flowers are dead on unique and beautiful! AL

mollycart1 · #13 02-25-2011, 10:37 PM

Thanks again all for nice compliments. As I visited one of the orchids shows in FL last October, I picked up a flyer made by Goodwins Orchids. It says not to water first then fertilize. It is not effective since the roots cannot take any nutrients. That being said, I water my Vandas with fertlizer weekly weakly. They get daily shower in the morning. It is working for me.

Lilly B · #14 02-26-2011, 08:49 AM

Can you share which fertilizer you use? Do you mix it with water and spray on the roots or do you soak the roots in the fertilizer?

mollycart1 · #15 02-26-2011, 10:07 AM

I use Jack's Jack's Classic Plant Food from J.R. Peters, Inc., Fertilizer Manufacturer - Jacks Classic. I mix the 'Grow' 1 & 1/2 tbsp with 1 gallon of water once a week for 3weeks, then on 4th weeks I switch to 'bloom' with 1/4 superthrive. I apply the mix onto the dry roots every week.

Since I water them every day, no salts will be built up to damage the roots.

BTW, I live in Pacific NW. All my Vandas are grown under the 2 x 400W HID lights with the distance of 1' to 2' from the lights.

DelawareJim · #16 02-26-2011, 10:16 AM

1 - 2 feet under 400Watt HID's? Whoa! It's obviously working for you. Awesome plants Naoki!

Cheers.
Jim

mollycart1 · #17 02-26-2011, 10:43 AM

Thanks, Jim. Some leaves turns 'purple' from the exposure to the light, but no burning signs yet. Recently, I moved the very reluctant V. sanderiana hybrid up higher to position less than 1 foot. Now I noticed a index finger size spike. I am really excited.

Lilly B · #18 02-26-2011, 01:44 PM

Thanks for the info. I'm new to Vandas and not feeling that they are getting all that they need. I'll have to order the fertilizer and see if that helps them along.
Congrats on the spike.

mollycart1 · #19 02-26-2011, 03:21 PM

Thanks, Lilly. Good luck on your new Vandas. Since you live in S. FL, I bet they grow like 'weeds'.

I love them. They are so eady to grow.

Lilly B · #20 02-26-2011, 04:22 PM

I'll have to wait and see how they do under my care. Weather is perfect for them but I'm so used to my other orchids growing in pots that this roots out in the air is a bit intimidating. I'm also having a hard time with the right place to hang them. Too much direct sun in one area and too little in the other. From burnt leaves to pale yellow leaves, oh my!! If I can't handle them, I'll probably meet up with tucker for breakfast and pass them along. I definitely won't let them die in my care. Thanks for the info Molly.