Vanda luzonica blooming

[Paul Mc]

smweaver, where do you place this orchid during the winter? Depending upon where in Indiana you are, we are in the same zone. My mother lives in Carmel, 1 hour north of Indianapolis and I buy plants for her all the time so somewhat know the similaraties and differences due to research (by the way, oudoor plants, not indoor ones, lol..).

So, I'm very curious what your indoor set-up is like to keep this particular Vanda growing. I have to say I fell in love with this one, but am concerned about my conditions for growing.

[fotofashion]

Thanks Steve. Mine, then, is a Looog ways from blooming. Speaking of the local fauna, my biggest problem right now is snails eating the buds and flowers on my orchids. I have got to get out to the plant table around 9 or 10 pm and pick off the little buggers before they destroy all my buds and flowers-to-be.
We finally got some decent weather. 42 last night but that still did not get rid of the mosquito horde.
Beverly A.

[smweaver]

Paul, I'm in Fishers, so your mom and I are practically neighbors. Everything goes outdoors during the summer, and then they all come back into a large four-season southwest facing sunroom during the winter. Most of the plants I have are accustomed to warm/hot summers and cool winters. So my set-up works pretty well for me (obviously, the V. luzonica and a few other truly warm-growing species need to be coddled a bit more, and they spend the night in an extra bedroom where it probably drops down to maybe 65 F). During the winter the sunroom drops to between 48 and 55 F at night, and climbs to the mid to high 70s during the day. I'd like to build a greenhouse, but my neighbor's on the Third Reich-inspired neighborhood home association, and she's thoughtfully informed me that they would undoubtedly frown upon that sort of thing. What types of orchids does your mother grow?

Beverly, snails and slugs seem to be a problem everywhere. I try to be a good Buddhist and not kill them outright, especially when I can toss them onto my neighbor's rose bed (which I've privately nominated as a sort of sanctuary for mollusks). I've tried to train my pug to eat them, but so far he doesn't seem to be too keen on the idea. So when I find them at night, they get hurled over the fence into the neighbor's yard.

[Paul Mc]

My mother only has two phal's - one I bought for her 2 Christmas's ago and the other was bought this year by my step-father for her as a "thinking of you when I saw it" gift. I tend to buy her more outdoor plants that she can enjoy as she has limited room and interest in orchids, lol...

I have to say, after reading about your care of the luzonica, it sounds like I might be able to do it as well. Do you use vase culture or do you use a basket? If in a basket, do you use coconut husk fibers or just leave it empty?

[smweaver]

The plant's in a one-gallon plastic pot, with a two-inch layer of styrofoam pieces in the bottom part, and a layer of large-grade aliflor (clay nuggets) on top. The roots are growing vigorously throughout the mix; however, when I had the luzonica in the same mix as the other vandas (large-grade coconut husk chunks, with charcoal and pumice), it sulked and root growth was minimal.

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

One of my favorite orchids.I'm pretty sure that's Vanda Luzonica "Evelyn".
There's another RF might have some of that was my all time favorite. Luzonica "Fuchs" Fred collected it in the seventies.

[smweaver]

Originally Posted by Arenalbotanicalgarden

One of my favorite orchids.I'm pretty sure that's Vanda Luzonica "Evelyn".
There's another RF might have some of that was my all time favorite. Luzonica "Fuchs" Fred collected it in the seventies.

Thanks very much for your response! If it's 'Evelyn,' then it's traveled a long way. This particular plant was obtained from Dowery Orchids a number of years ago from one of their imported shipments from Southeast Asia. I also think that I read somewhere (perhaps the earlier Motes book) that Evelyn is fragrant. So far, there's still no fragrance to these. Still, if it's decent enough to pass for an awarded clone, then I'm pretty happy with that. Thank you again for your comments. I might pester RF for some pollen, since it would be nice to get it outcrossed.

Steve

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

You could ask Bob. If he doesn't have any you could call Martin 305/247-4398
Ruben might have some flasks of it. He's big on species.
Ruben In Orchids

[fotofashion]

smweaver: I'm afraid my throwing arm will not do over 200' to the neighbor across the street and over 300' to the next door neighbors on each side. (especially seeing as I'm going to need some surgery on both shoulders soon )
Beverly A.