Medium or no medium????

[starwhiz]

I read somewhere that you can give your vanda a good soak once or twice a month for about 5 hrs. It loves water.
It loves high humidity. You should not have a problem since your humidity level is high. I mist the aireal roots once or twice a day ( I live in dry high Colorado)
I have mine in a pot with some sphag. I make sure that the roots in the pot is aired well so I leave an empty spot in the middle of the pot. The sphag is on the side of the pot. I Wet the root to easily maneauver it if I want to move it. It is in direct morning east sunshine. It developed black spots(sunburn?) on the leaves when I placed it under the west afternoon sun.

[CodiMN]

Hi Candace! You really need to talk to Sue! She's like the vanda queen! I don't have any medium in my baskets, just a little wire helping to prop up my plant safely until all the roots get comfy in their basket. Either way, lots of water is a good thing!

You want to make sure they roots turn white to green when you water...that means they're getting it. I also use fertilizer/rooting hormones to help them adjust.

[Candice]

Ok so it took a post where I had to admit that I was dumb to get all this attention...shhiiishshhhhhh

JUST KIDDING!!! I LOVE ALL THE RESPONSES

Ok so I have to hear from Sue...aka "VANDA QUEEN"

Can there be 2 VANDA QUEENS? I was told that Gin was one, and now Sue, but the more the merrier, to me !!!

Ok...I know I need to get a basket with a wire hanger for now at least...

GIN~I do have some MSU fertilizer for tap H2O from Ray's site. So your really live by that stuff?
I can't remember what the brand of stuff I use, but its endorsed by AOS...I am at work right now...hehe so I can't look at the bags
Again thanks for everyone's help....can't wait to get the 'chid!!! I still have a week or two before she gets here! But want to have her home ready!

[Phantasm]

It comes down to your growing conditions. If you grow outside or in a greenhouse all you need is a basket or wire with little or no media. Just hose the roots......In the house, it's a bit more difficult but some media to hold moisture and a good dunking works.

[cb977]

Originally Posted by CodiMN

Hi Candace! You really need to talk to Sue! She's like the vanda queen! I don't have any medium in my baskets, just a little wire helping to prop up my plant safely until all the roots get comfy in their basket. Either way, lots of water is a good thing!

You want to make sure they roots turn white to green when you water...that means they're getting it. I also use fertilizer/rooting hormones to help them adjust.

Carolyn...you're too funny!

[cb977]

Originally Posted by Candice

Ok so it took a post where I had to admit that I was dumb to get all this attention...shhiiishshhhhhh

JUST KIDDING!!! I LOVE ALL THE RESPONSES

Ok so I have to hear from Sue...aka "VANDA QUEEN"

Can there be 2 VANDA QUEENS? I was told that Gin was one, and now Sue, but the more the merrier, to me !!!

Ok...I know I need to get a basket with a wire hanger for now at least...

GIN~I do have some MSU fertilizer for tap H2O from Ray's site. So your really live by that stuff?
I can't remember what the brand of stuff I use, but its endorsed by AOS...I am at work right now...hehe so I can't look at the bags
Again thanks for everyone's help....can't wait to get the 'chid!!! I still have a week or two before she gets here! But want to have her home ready!

Hi Candice

I just sent you a PM...I have about 30 vandas.
PLEASE also take Gin's advice...she has some of the most beautiful orchids around! The lady knows what she's doin'

[cb977]

Originally Posted by Gin

Originally Posted by CodiMN View Post
Hi Candace! You really need to talk to Sue! She's like the vanda queen!
-------------------------------------------------------
I thought this was a forum where all growing practices were welcome .. Gin

It is!!! Did you not see this?

PLEASE also take Gin's advice...she has some of the most beautiful orchids around! The lady knows what she's doin'

[cb977]

Come on...let's not make this a place where we have to watch every word we say so as not to offend anybody. It wasn't meant as a personal attack on you or anybody else.

We're all here for the same reason...to learn and enjoy each other's company in the process.

[nenella]

Originally Posted by cb977

Come on...let's not make this a place where we have to watch every word we say so as not to offend anybody. It wasn't meant as a personal attack on you or anybody else.

We're all here for the same reason...to learn and enjoy each other's company in the process.

I agree! I love this forum & learn LOADS from everyone's comments/practices etc..
I got interested in this very interesting thread because I had a vanda given to me in a glass vase (nothing else; just roots ..in the vase) a few years ago(It was a 'blue' one.... more purple/violet coloured to me ...
Anyways I ended up killing it about a year & a half later as I incessantly "kept on forgetting it" during its watering sessions .... I basically drowned it.... & have not yet had the 'guts' to buy one since after this experience, also because I now live in a much 'cooler' region..At the time I was living on the south coast of France (med sea) and am now living 'up north' on the Atlantic coast, near Nantes..
Well, that's my story!!!
I look forward to reading alot more on the growing of vandas and everyone's different 'methods' !!!
Merci !
Nenella