terete Miss Joachim

[tryingtoflower]

I'm fairly new to the orchid world and have started collecting what I think will grow outside in Southern California. At the last show I purchased a terete Miss Joachim. I thought I'd attempt to try and get it to attach to a tree in full sun. It's been awhile now and it is wrinkled up and quite brown. I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck with these in my area? How's the best way to water it? Thanks!

[FSUOrchids]

These are supposed to grow out of the ground, that could be why you're having a problem. At least that's where they root.

[tryingtoflower]

The plant is in the ground,attached to a tree. I water it frequently and fertilize but it's not looking good. Will it grow in Southern California?

[CR7cristiano]

It will grow find where you are in full sun. Many times when you just set down cuttings initially the stem gets quite dry as does the rest of the plant. Just water frequently if hot and maybe a location that gets only full morning sun would be could to begin with, at least until it establishes new roots. Lastly, no it must not be planted in the earth. You can lay a bed of would chips, or coarse bark, or even a charcoal & stone bed. The minute you start having too many of the roots in the earth is the fast you plant will decline.
Mount on a stump or stake.

[tryingtoflower]

Thank you for your advice. This is the second plant I've purchased. It is a large plant that had just bloomed when I bought it. I'll be sure the roots aren't in the ground and use orchid bark. It does have some long roots but looks like a stick and doesn't plump up at all. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Bud]

There's a hedge of these Vandas in Escondido, CA its a suburb of San Diego....it is growing on the ground directly on the soil ....it was not mounted or potted like an orchid but it is a hedge separating the neighbor's property....it is a 5 feet tall thicket about 7 feet long planted at six inch interval, that is blooming well....A year ago, I was given a bunch of two feet top cutting and I am growing it in S/H method indoors in my apartment; it is now in spike and I will post pictures soon.

[tucker85]

Here in South Florida many people grow terete vandas in cypress mulch or wood chips. They don't attach to trees the way other vandas do.

[tryingtoflower]

I'm hoping I'm as fortunate as the Escondido grower. Even if I get a new root I'm happy. I have to start somewhere. Perhaps someday it will be a flower

[CR7cristiano]

Don't get me wrong, a well established and mature terete vanda can have some roots in the soil, but they don't grow in soil. They are always grown on stakes even when they are set in gardens and as hedging; you will notice that most of its established roots have tangled in the "bush" of terete vandas and the rest are aerial. The ones in the soil are older and most roots towards the base will often be dried up by that time. Terete vandas dont grow thick roots so if they sit in moisture without airflow i.e. soil they will rot faster than you can say "huh".

[Chatbud]

Here's how our national flower and similar cultivars are grown.

This cluster is found at our botanical gardens.



They will mostly only flower above the stake/support.

---------- Post added at 09:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 AM ----------

Here's another mature plant housed under netting in an organic vegetable garden.

I was told this has nv flowered. And according to "experts", it's because it's touching stake/support. Other reasons - it needs to be blasted by full sun for at least 1/2 a day + NPK.