Is there such a thing as a difficult bloomer?

[Chatbud]

As in the vanda does not bloom easily?

This is Dr. Anek x Thongcai

I believe this is a pretty mature vanda? Gotta be at least 4 yrs old maybe?
However, this is its first ever bloom.
There is an aborted spike node at the axil just below the current spike.
Other than that I do not see any cut spikes at the axils below.

Could I have bought a "difficult" vanda or a vanda with less-than-ideal genes? :/

[Paphluvr]

I don't know if you would say difficult to bloom or just needing to be mature to bloom. I have an Ascocenda Princess Mikasa 'Sapphire' that I had for four years before it decided to bloom. I thought it was large enough to bloom and was about to get rid of it when it finally decided to do its thing. It's been a reliable bloomer ever since, generally blooming twice a year. As a matter of fact, it's throwing a new spike right now.

[Chatbud]

Originally Posted by Paphluvr

I don't know if you would say difficult to bloom or just needing to be mature to bloom. I have an Ascocenda Princess Mikasa 'Sapphire' that I had for four years before it decided to bloom. I thought it was large enough to bloom and was about to get rid of it when it finally decided to do its thing. It's been a reliable bloomer ever since, generally blooming twice a year. As a matter of fact, it's throwing a new spike right now.

Hope it's same case with this new one I just bought...

How big was your Princess when you 1st gotten it?
I just measured mine and it stands 14" from basket base to emerging leaf. Big enough by my standards

[tucker85]

I agree, some orchids need to get pretty big before they bloom while others can bloom on small plants. Also some vandas only bloom once a year but many of the hybrids, especially ascocendas, can bloom two or three times a year, maybe even more.

[euplusia]

As tucker said, in the past nearly all Vanda hybrids only bloomed when they were big enough or old enough. It is an achievement of breeding that modern Vanda hybrids start to flower when they are small and flower several times per year.

[Silje]

I have an ascocenda 'Laksi Liang' that I thought would be an easy flowerer. It was bought as 'flowering size', but it still took me two years to finally see the flowers. It's slightly smaller than your vanda, I guessing from the picture, but not a lot. I cannot see any old spikes on my plant either so this is the first time.

I was so relieved to see that spike developing! I was about to give up on all vandas at that point. Now I've got a bit of patience and goodwill for them again.

[AussieVanda]

My vanda arjuna is 4 years old but half the height size of your plant but roots very well developed. A very slow grower even though it is in optimum position and fed well.

in its credit though, it was barely a size A seedling when I got it.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

I just wanna say, really gorgeous, and very nice healthy looking vanda! great growing!

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by Chatbud

Hope it's same case with this new one I just bought...

How big was your Princess when you 1st gotten it?
I just measured mine and it stands 14" from basket base to emerging leaf. Big enough by my standards

Actually some Vandas don't start blooming until they are mature and well over 4 years old. It depends on the cross; for example V. Pachara delight can spike at a very small size and so do coeruleas.
I have a Robert's Delight 'Blue' and it is very big and hasn't spiked yet. Its well over 14 inches and roots to climb a building, but it just hasn't matured enough yet to bloom.
Just be patient with vandas even if they might not seem to bloom even at its seemingly mature size. When it's ready it will spike believe me.

[ingse]

This Vanda brunnea is about 2 meters long and the owner said he had been waiting a long time for these two spikes.
I think it was the first time it flowered, so some vandas can be a bit "moody"
The owner has been growing Vandas for about 30 years so he knows all there is to know about the species.