My new arrival - Ascocenda White Angel

[l1sav]

Originally Posted by Chatbud

Did you break any roots while stuffing them into the glass vase?

I was really really careful when putting it into the vase. I had soaked the roots for a while to make them pliable, then I had to gently twist the roots into a coil to get it to go into the vase. I unfortunately did break off a couple of bits about 2 inches in length but that was all
It was quite difficult to do especially as the roots are so long. It took me several attempts.

---------- Post added at 03:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:39 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

Rainwater is fine. Be careful that you aren't over watering. If the roots are in a vase, they don't dry out quickly. I had a bare root asco that I was soaking a couple of times a day. It began to rot, so I put it in a basket with sphag and charcoal. It is easy to tell when the sphag is dry. It is normal for vanda roots to be grey in between waterings, unlike phals, which need more water.

So that begs the question...how do you know "when" to water your vanda if the roots are grey in between watering.

I have also noticed today that the lower leaves where they join the main stem r looking a tad wrinkly. IS this due to under watering, over watering or is this just the norm as its the lower ones????
The leaves themselves seem fine they r just a bit loser, floppy and a bit wrinkly where they connect to the main stem. See picture:
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[Vanda lover]

If have the plant in a vase, it should be fine only soaking once or twice a week as long as you mist it each day. Even though our summer was very dry, the one I have in a vase has not become dehydrated. It was only soaked once a week. I do have the top of the vase almost closed in. I have a little moss and an air plant in the top, to keep it more moist inside the vase. If your roots are beginning to rot, your leaves could begin to look wrinkled. that happened to my bare root asco before I put it in a basket.

[Chatbud]

Woh. Is once a week enough?
Over here at the tropics (and I have my vandas on the balcony) I have to spray at them every morning and evening else new buds would blast, foliage would turn wrinkly slowly and most noticeably - roots would begin to dry and shrink and shrivel

[Vanda lover]

I wonder if perhaps vase culture wouldn't work as well in the tropics, with your hot temperatures. I am only guessing. I have a friend in Holland who also just soaks her vandas once a week just as I do. The vase holds the humidity well. I was worried about seedlings getting too dry in vase culture but she assures me that she only soaks them once a week as well. But our climates are very different from yours. The sun might cook them in vases, with your heat.

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by l1sav

I will definitely have to move it in the summer as it scorches there. In the summer ithink i will move it into my bathroom - got a tall frosted window there which catches the sun in the early morning. (E/ne facing)

I don't think that will be enough light in the summer... Which way does your kitchen window face (where it is now)?

[Vanda lover]

I agree with Island girl. You need to try to give vandas as much light as possible without burning them. South facing windows are best. At certain times of the year the sun can be too hot for a little while in the hot part of the afternoon. They should be protected then. I find that if you can give them morning light and late afternoon to dusk light, it is ideal. Supplement with a grow light otherwise. There are some good ones that will screw into a regular light socket.

[l1sav]

Thanks ever s much for all your hints & tips/
@VandaLover I have it currently on my kitchen window. Its E/SE facing so catches the sun when it rises and gets it till the afternoon when it then goes over the house.

The last few days we have had lovely weather and I put it outside. Also if its a nice sunny day in the winter I can put it in the conservatory as it catches the sun most of the afternoon/evening and it will be nice and warm in there.

The new spike i spotted on the next leaf up is growing and I noticed today there are signs of a new leaf growing in the crown

So far I have been misting the roots everyday. I have lost one little leaf right down at the bottom that went a bit yellow and just came away - that might be just natural leaf wastage but im still new to vanda's so not so sure.

Hopefully what i'm providing for it is ok.........

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[Vanda lover]

It sounds like your vanda is getting the perfect conditions. They do sometime lose a leaf at the bottom, so I wouldn't worry.

[l1sav]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

It sounds like your vanda is getting the perfect conditions. They do sometime lose a leaf at the bottom, so I wouldn't worry.

fingers crossed I keep it going.

[Vanda lover]

I find vandas the easiest to grow.