Vanda Set-ups in Winter

[LovePhals]

Hi all. I was wondering what everyone's set up is for Vanda's in Winter inside the home (for those of us who can't keep them out). Do you pot them, have them in vase culture, hang them inside. How do you keep humidity up when the heat is on and keep the Vanda happy? Post pictures, I was hoping this could help other Vanda growers in colder areas also!
Right now I have one in vase culture, one hanging in a window and another with no media in a pot with basket. I am concerned about not giving enough water, humidity!

I have all my vandas mature and seedlings in clay pots with handful of large chc chunks and they love it.
When they were on the windowsill I had to water them every 2 days, now in tank with higher humidity - once a week.

[nikkik]

In the winter, I have all of my adult vandas hanging overhead in a heated solarium. It does get very dry when the heat kicks on every 5 minutes!! I tend to put coconut fiber, moss or wine cork in the baskets. I know many people put them in bark and it works wonders for them (it's not a media that I work well with). I do soak more frequently in the winter to keep the roots hydrated.

I know people with just a few vandas pot them up or use vase culture and it works fantastically, but I don't have the space because shelves are reserved for seedlings and potted orchids. I think many methods work great, it's just a matter of your growing space, conditions and preferences.

Note: In the picture the wood isn't bark, but pieces that have fallen off of the basket.

Here is another method of growing vandas in drier conditions:
Vandas with sphagnum moss - Orchid Forum by The Orchid Source

I tried it on couple vandas, but then went back to my usual chc. Depends on personal preferences and conditions.

[Vanda lover]

I like that idea with the sphagnum moss, orchideya!.
We don't have winter humidity problems here, but when we lived in Ontario I grew my vandas in baskets with sphag and charcoal. I still grow some this way. I also used a humidifier, but usually the sphag was dry within a week when grown this way. If it isn't, I remove some of the sphag and put it near a fan.

[LovePhals]

Great advice, thank you so much. I went with the above advices and potted my hanging vanda in a clay pot with large cork pieces and some sphagnum moss also but just put that on the top roots. I hope this helps to keep it watered and humid in the colder months! I attached a picture! I think my other Vanda in vase culture will be ok as the vase will keep it humid.

[Leafmite]

I use red lava rock in my plastic vanda baskets. Even so, I have roots that grow out of my vanda baskets so I have to go around with a little spray bottle and get them. With vase culture, is it mainly used for smaller vandas or do people try this with the larger ones, too?

[LovePhals]

I have my large vanda in vase culture, probably double the size of the one I just pictured. The roots run along the bottom of the vase too so I have to be sure water isn't sitting in it. It has a big root mass. It is currently growing roots like crazy too! I water every 2 days and mist the other. I can post a more updated picture tomorrow.

[jtl2]

Near a window hanging in baskets on a rolling clothing rack. Humidifier is located next to them. Low tech, but it works.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I use red lava rock in my plastic vanda baskets. Even so, I have roots that grow out of my vanda baskets so I have to go around with a little spray bottle and get them. With vase culture, is it mainly used for smaller vandas or do people try this with the larger ones, too?

I have a blooming sized vanda in a vase and I just soak it once a week and mist it every day. It is doing very well and the roots seem to be in better shape than my hanging ones. The only problem is, it is much easier to find hanging space with good light than vase space. In the summer I can hang them outdoors, whereas placing a vase can be tricky.