Vanda with dry roots - watering problems?

[XMaraX]

I'm new to vandas, in fact I bought my first one 2 months ago and kept reasearching what were the best ways to water it properly. I put it in a vase and kept watering it every 4-5 days (like filling the vase and the emptying it after 20-30 minutes).
It looked happy at first but then I noticed that her roots turned brown as if they were dry and had begun to rot. I removed her from the vase and saw that she still had some green roots although most of them are brown ( I cut the rotting ones off as they were quite damaged) and also seems very dry when I touch them. The leaves are in good condition though and the stem is ferm.
I need suggestion with what I should do next.
Help?

Here are some pictures:

[RosieC]

Rot is not the same as being dry.

Are they soft and mushy to the touch (rot) or dry and papery (too dry).

If rot then it could be that water is sitting on the edge of the vase touching the roots and it's causing them to not dry out enough.

If they are too dry then I think you need to water more.

4-5 days sounds too long for Vandas grown bare root. I've never done it, but when I was looking at growing them this way I was told every day in summer and every other day in winter.

Vandas like a LOT of water, but they also like plenty of air on the roots. Getting the balance can be the difficult thing. The vase helps keep in some humidity but I think it sounds like yours has not been getting enough water.

However if the roots are mushy and rotted that's a different thing.

[Vanda lover]

Some people only soak vandas once a week in vase culture, but mist every day as well. Vanda girl tells me that this is how she grows hers. I have a new seedling in vase culture that has almost no roots. It's been 3 weeks, but no new roots yet. I have tried adding a little root hormone and Superthrive to the water. The plant appears to be doing fine, though.

[cday2inflorida]

I'm sort of inclined to think if they are truly dry and not mushy that there is a possibility.....................
Glass + blazing sun = HEAT.

[Vanda lover]

There are quite a few people growing in vase culture now, and from what they say, as long as it's only the roots in the vase, and there is a little water in the vase, the sun in no problem. I would imagine that it must get pretty hot if the vase is in too much sun, however.

[nenella]

Hi Looking at your roots they look very dry. I grow mine in a vase & soak every day. Try soaking as already suggested with rooting hormone. You should see new root growth. By the way I have mine in a vase in the brightest window (depending if it's summer or winter) - Also I have net curtains on the windows and the vase stands @ about 1 metre from it. Hope this helps. Keep us posted.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by nenella

Hi Looking at your roots they look very dry. I grow mine in a vase & soak every day. Try soaking as already suggested with rooting hormone. You should see new root growth. By the way I have mine in a vase in the brightest window (depending if it's summer or winter) - Also I have net curtains on the windows and the vase stands @ about 1 metre from it. Hope this helps. Keep us posted.

I'm glad that you suggested this. I've had my new vasco seedling for 3 weeks, and have been wondering if I should soak it more often, because it has no new roots yet, and the plant looks a little dehydrated, despite mistings. Have you tried this with a seedling? Mine was 13 days in the mail, and lost most of it's roots.