Possibly The World's Smallest Vanda coerulea?

[Susie11]

I have finally received my first ever beautiful beloved Vanda coerulea. It is unbelievably small and adorable and I already love it madly! The leaves measure from one side to the other side 18cm! I am crazy in love with this guy. It is a blooming sized plant that I shall be attempting to grow it in a glass vase. So far so good however it has only been two days.

Getting a good drink of seaweed extract


In it's new home




Size comparison (a twenty pence piece)


Alarmingly I did notice some strange depressed markings this morning on the underside of a few of the leaves - but only one one side of the plant though unusually. I have rubbed hydrogen peroxide on all of them and they have markedly improved. Some I can no longer see anymore. I don't know what they are /were. Hopefully it is nothing too worrying.



Should I be scared??

[Gage]

Congrats on your new vanda! I have had mine for over a year now, and it is probably still 3 or 4 years from blooming, sigh... Anyhow, im not sure about the indentations on the leaves of your plant, but peroxide was a good decision. Since you are doing vase culture (I was doing this for my coerulea for a while), I would recommend soaking the entire plant in peroxide to eliminate any mold or fungus spores. I used to do that every few weeks with my little vanda seedlings because the humid vase is perfect for growing all sorts of things. Anyway, this is an absolutely lovely species, in all its forms, I can't wait to see your blooms when they come!

Nice looking vanda, you will enjoy its gorgeous blooms!
Could those spots be a physical damage from being squished during shipment?

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by Gage

Congrats on your new vanda! I have had mine for over a year now, and it is probably still 3 or 4 years from blooming, sigh... Anyhow, im not sure about the indentations on the leaves of your plant, but peroxide was a good decision. Since you are doing vase culture (I was doing this for my coerulea for a while), I would recommend soaking the entire plant in peroxide to eliminate any mold or fungus spores. I used to do that every few weeks with my little vanda seedlings because the humid vase is perfect for growing all sorts of things. Anyway, this is an absolutely lovely species, in all its forms, I can't wait to see your blooms when they come!

Thanks Gage! I am so excited by it wondering whether if one day I'll spot a spike !!.

I sprayed it thoroughly with an anti fungal spray when I got it -as I do with all of my new orchids- and so far it seems ok. I hope that it isn't anything to worry about. I shall show you my blooms in due course

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by orchideya

Nice looking vanda, you will enjoy its gorgeous blooms!
Could those spots be a physical damage from being squished during shipment?

I wondered that myself since it is only on one side but when I rubbed it with h/p it came away dirty and they seemed to fade after so I don't know but hopefully they are benign.

[Gage]

Originally Posted by Susie11

Thanks Gage! I am so excited by it wondering whether if one day I'll spot a spike !!.

I sprayed it thoroughly with an anti fungal spray when I got it -as I do with all of my new orchids- and so far it seems ok. I hope that it isn't anything to worry about. I shall show you my blooms in due course

Good work! Just thought I should say that if some of the leaves were damaged from a fungus or any number of things, they may develop black spots or fall off completely. But since it seems you have treated the plant thoroughly for fungus, don't be alarmed if things start looking worse. It probably won't mean that things are actually getting worse, just the damages visually setting in.

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by Gage

Good work! Just thought I should say that if some of the leaves were damaged from a fungus or any number of things, they may develop black spots or fall off completely. But since it seems you have treated the plant thoroughly for fungus, don't be alarmed if things start looking worse. It probably won't mean that things are actually getting worse, just the damages visually setting in.

Thanks for the info Gage. I shall try not to feel too upset if it loses all of it's leaves overnight!!

[Gage]

Originally Posted by Susie11

Thanks for the info Gage. I shall try not to feel too upset if it loses all of it's leaves overnight!!

Nooooo!!!

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by Gage

Nooooo!!!

I have just checked it for the millionth time and so far it still has all that it came with. If the light levels are too dull will it affect this type of vanda? I hear that coeruleas are not as needing of high temps and light as other vandas. Today the weather here in 'sunny' london is as usual cloudy and grey . I just wonder whether it is getting enough. I do not want to grow under lights as I really don't have the room. The leaves are currently a pleasant apple green.

[Gage]

I know they are a bit cooler growers than many vandas, but I haven't heard anything about lower light levels. Maybe someone else can answer that. But I can say that if the leaves start getting any darker it isn't getting enough light, at least probably not enough light for it to bloom. What direction does your window face?