fertilizing bare root vandas

[Susie11]

Sorry to ask a non related question but the newest leaf on my Vanda was about 1cm shorter than the others. I grow under lights and this is the first leaf that has finish growing since I put it under the daylight bulb. Does it matter? It is growing roots like crazy but I just wonder if it is getting enough light? I couldn't give it any more since it is already close to the bulb.

[lambelkip]

Originally Posted by Susie11

Sorry to ask a non related question but the newest leaf on my Vanda was about 1cm shorter than the others. I grow under lights and this is the first leaf that has finish growing since I put it under the daylight bulb. Does it matter? It is growing roots like crazy but I just wonder if it is getting enough light? I couldn't give it any more since it is already close to the bulb.

oh no!
growing shorter leaves is usually the result of higher light levels, not lower light levels. I suspect the leaves are also a lighter color (yellowish green)

the other possibility is a change in nutrient availability/fertilizer use.

as long as it appears healthy, I would not worry about it.

[CR7cristiano]

1cm isn't enough to make a fuss about. Don't worry about that. What's the age of your vanda approximately; if mature a stronger lumen bulb could help. Minimum 6 hrs of light, or up to 8. But your plant seems very happy.

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by lambelkip

oh no!
growing shorter leaves is usually the result of higher light levels, not lower light levels. I suspect the leaves are also a lighter color (yellowish green)

the other possibility is a change in nutrient availability/fertilizer use.

as long as it appears healthy, I would not worry about it.

well it is the same colour but it is about 1mm thicker than the previous one. There also appears to be a more noticeable kink in it as well. I shall just ignore it then. Thanks for the advice.

Originally Posted by CR7cristiano

1cm isn't enough to make a fuss about. Don't worry about that. What's the age of your vanda approximately; if mature a stronger lumen bulb could help. Minimum 6 hrs of light, or up to 8. But your plant seems very happy.

I don't know the exact age but it is a mature sized Vanda. The new leaf seems strong and thick so I guess it is just fine.

[CR7cristiano]

Yea, it seems just fine.

[Gerard Harbison]

Just an addendum to a very old thread. I was fascinated how many people had good luck with seaweed extract on bare-root Vandas. So I tried misting with my usual orchid fertilizer (Jack's; nothing special) but adding in a low concentration of sodium alginate. Alginate is sold by nutrition stores and is extracted from kelp. It makes water gel at very low concentrations. My theory was that if it made the fertilizer solution dry to a gel on the roots, rather than to inorganic microcrystals, that would keep the fertilizer avaiable and the roots less susceptible to damage from locally high salt concentrations.

Based on a month's experience, it seems to work very well. Anyone else tried this?

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