Saggy Vandas - Orchid Board

adalberto09 · #1 05-31-2012, 09:42 PM

Hi again,

I've just attached photos of the 2 orchids. The first 4 pics are of the bloomed orchid and the last 3 are from the other. Yes, when I water them the roots turn green.

Regards,
Adalberto

Hello to all...

I just realized that 2 of my 6 Vanda orchids have saggy leaves. One of them is in beautiful bloom, they both have nice roots and the one that isn't in bloom has new roots growing all over. I water them every morning and fertilize once a week. Is too much light my problem? I moved them today to an area where they will receive more shade. Any help will be appreciated.

Regards,
Adalberto (Puerto Rico)

tucker85 · #2 05-31-2012, 10:47 PM

It sounds like you're doing everything right as far as water and fertilizer. If a vanda gets too much light it usually burns. The leaves would get black areas. I don't know what's causing the saggy leaves. Since they're blooming and growing new roots, it sounds like they're healthy. I'm sorry that I can't come up with a reason for you.

Gage · #3 05-31-2012, 11:02 PM

It sounds like heat stress. When you water them, are the roots all turning green? If the roots refuse to turn green, soak them in a bucket for several hours in the morning, and repeat daily as necessary until the roots respond to watering by turning green.

Gin · #4 05-31-2012, 11:04 PM

Hi ! Can you post a picture of the plants ? some of mine have saggy leaves because of the length of them and some do not , I don't think light is the cause if too shaded no blooms

sounds like you are have the culture right

adalberto09 · #5 06-01-2012, 09:24 AM

Sorry, I replied and posted the photos via "edit". Probably not the correct way of doing it. Anyways, I've just posted a couple of pictures.

Regards,
Adalberto

tucker85 · #6 06-01-2012, 09:32 AM

In the picture it looks like only the bottom leaves that are sagging. I wouldn't worry about that. It's normal for some of the older leaves to sag or to fall off. The rest of the plant looks pretty healthy to me.

adalberto09 · #7 06-01-2012, 10:17 AM

Thanks Tucker85. So you would recommend I leave them exactly where they were at?

Bud · #8 06-01-2012, 04:22 PM

most of my lavender and dark blue vandas do this kind of sagging on the two lowermost level of leaves...my Vanda Pachara is exactly like the one of your picture that grows a large pencil like root and push the leaf downwards...
putting them in a bright shady place is nice...too much sun gives the leaves dark spots ... it has to be just right sunlight
there is no such thing as over watering for Vandas...they drink and feed a lot

tucker85 · #9 06-01-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adalberto09

Thanks Tucker85. So you would recommend I leave them exactly where they were at?

As long as the leaves don't burn, I would put them back in the location where they spiked and bloomed. I'm sure the saggy leaves were not caused by too much light.

One other thing, try to find a fertilizer that gets a lot of it's nitrogen from nitrate. Many fertilizers use ammonium or urea as sources of nitrogen. Ammonium and urea are better than nothing but orchids utilize the nitrogen from nitrate much more easily. You can use whatever fertilizer is available but keep your eye out for a fertilizer that uses nitrate. Also use a fertilizer that contains micro-nutrients. They are called complete fertilizers. In the end though, any fertilizer is better than nothing.

Junebug · #10 06-01-2012, 08:00 PM

I wouldn't worry about those lower leaves sagging. My vandas do this, and sometimes the lower leaves will turn yellow and drop just as new roots emerge from where the leaves had been growing. A big fat root is capable of detaching a leaf as it emerges. Keep an eye out for swelling/roots at the base of those leaves.