Ascocenda Princess Mikasa "White" in bloom - Orchid Board

NYCorchidman · #1 08-18-2012, 01:08 PM

This is the second time I'm trying th vanda related plant. Last time I had vascostylis or neostylis plant, which dried out too much and I had no idea what to do with it and just dumped out the sad looking plant.

I saw this at a local farmer's market on wednesday. It reminded me of a white vanda with intense green bottom sepals that I found online some time ago.
This one was just smaller and green was much lesser, but I liked it enough and brought it home.

This one has two spikes with about 8 flowers on each. I like how the bottom two sepals are green.

Slightly vanilla ice cream scent in the early morning. I've seen other people growing this type in a vase, or potted in open media. I have to decide which way I want to go before I dry and kill this again.

Currently hanging in the basket it came in on my south window. It really adds tropical charm to the living space!

First three pics were taken on rainy day, which is why they are rather dark. It looks much better in th sunlight I think.

Now everyone, share your secret of growing this successfully indoor. Thanks!

tucker85 · #2 08-18-2012, 02:02 PM

Beautiful! Princess Mikasa is a very nice cross. I have the indigo version. Vandas are high maintenance orchids that require a lot of light, water and fertilizer. I have no experience growing them indoors but I've been impressed with the results of vase culture that other forum members have shared. Good luck.

Bluesky · #3 08-18-2012, 09:53 PM

I have Ascda. Princess Mikassa 'Pink'. I was not aware that it was available in white. Yours is very nice.

I grow mine outside in the summer & under light in the winter. It has done extremely well for me. At one time it had 6 keiki's and they all bloomed!

It finally got too large for my growing space & I had to divide it up. I sold all of the keiki's & kept the top of the parent. It is blooming a double spike right now and has another spike coming. It also had grown another keiki but it was way down inside of the net pot & I broke it off trying to get it re-situated. I'm sure it will grow another & next year I'll have to top it again to control it's size.
Good luck with yours.

Lagoon · #4 08-18-2012, 09:56 PM

My gosh thats pretty

NYCorchidman · #5 08-19-2012, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucker85

Beautiful! Princess Mikasa is a very nice cross. I have the indigo version. Vandas are high maintenance orchids that require a lot of light, water and fertilizer. I have no experience growing them indoors but I've been impressed with the results of vase culture that other forum members have shared. Good luck.

Thank you! hmmmm,,,I'm not sure if I like high maintenance plants. I just bought it because it looked so nice!

NYCorchidman · #6 08-19-2012, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesky

I have Ascda. Princess Mikassa 'Pink'. I was not aware that it was available in white. Yours is very nice.

I grow mine outside in the summer & under light in the winter. It has done extremely well for me. At one time it had 6 keiki's and they all bloomed!

It finally got too large for my growing space & I had to divide it up. I sold all of the keiki's & kept the top of the parent. It is blooming a double spike right now and has another spike coming. It also had grown another keiki but it was way down inside of the net pot & I broke it off trying to get it re-situated. I'm sure it will grow another & next year I'll have to top it again to control it's size.
Good luck with yours.

The vendor set up the table early in the morning. I showed up around noonish. I was told they sold blue ones and pink ones in the morning. They had two white ones left hanging under their tent. I took the better looking one.

Wow~ 6 keikis!!! How long have you had your plant??
and how do you take care of it so well?

NYCorchidman · #7 08-19-2012, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagoon

My gosh thats pretty

Thanks, Gloria.
Yep, I got hooked when I saw it and had to have it.

I'm misting the plant every morning and again in the afternoon. So far, a few more buds opened up, so at least I'm not killing it yet.

Bluesky · #8 08-19-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

The vendor set up the table early in the morning. I showed up around noonish. I was told they sold blue ones and pink ones in the morning. They had two white ones left hanging under their tent. I took the better looking one.

Wow~ 6 keikis!!! How long have you had your plant??
and how do you take care of it so well?

I bought it in 2002. It was on an out of bloom table & was sadly neglected. I grow it with 4- 40W bulbs in shop lights in my sun room, that I use as my growing space. In the winter I put it outside where it gets sun till early afternoon. Ascda.'s don't need as much light as Vandas. I really was surprised that I could grow them.

They do like to drink and I have to put it in a bucket to slack it's thirst since it has gotten so large.

I fertilize it weakly at every watering. It was 2008 when it had the 6 keiki's.