My *tiny* new vanda

[Cpman]

Well I got the feeling I needed another orchid (don't we all) so I set out to find a vanda as I only have one (a Tokyo blue saphire ) so I headed to my local nursery and at first glance they only have the usual paphs and dens wit one or two epis so I ask an employee if they have some vandas left and he pulls out two giants a really healthy tricolor and a semi terete NOid both almost 2 feet tall (not including roots) for $50 each, naturally paying that much for an orchid didn't seem right wit me so I told him I'd take one for $40 and 5mins later I walked away wit this monster tricolor vanda any ideas for potting it??

[FSUOrchids]

I don't know if that will fit in a basket...you may just need to tie a wire hanger to the base and hang it that way...

[nikkik]

Gorgeous plant, I would have brought that one home too!

[Bud]

Happy healthy plant. It has two basal keikis. It is in a wire basket type that you can add coconut fiber around to catch large media mix sprinkled around it....you are set....your humid atmosphere will take care of it....if it gets above 90F then water it twice a day...you should have asked the people where you got the plant on tips how they are growing it and its culture.

[Chatbud]

You know I have a V. Insignis that look almost similar, ie. bottom leaves all gone leaving 5-6 sets on top and maybe slightly shorter.

The tag says "V. Insignie...Dec 2006"

[Laserbeak]

I like octagonal wooden baskets. If the plant has long roots, soak them in warm water for at least 30 minutes to make them pliable so you can put wrap them up into the basket. Try to pull some of them out of the slats in the basket if possible. Eventually, it will start growing new aerial roots out of everywhere and start hanging down big roots again, but this helps keep the plant from drying out without constant misting of the roots. Fill in the basket around the roots with a coarse mix. For this plant, you'd need at least a six inch pot, maybe an eight inch one. If you want to hang it get a hanger if it doesn't come with the pot or make your own with green plastic coated florists' wire.

My 2¢.

---------- Post added 12-19-2013 at 12:21 AM ---------- Previous post was 12-18-2013 at 11:53 PM ----------

Here's a Vanda I have in such a basket.



Growing some BIG roots, these appeared a couple weeks ago:

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[plumania]

Good size plant. Costly too. I realize now, this is normal price for vanda this size.
When I buy a plant from nursery, I look at the way they are growing it. If they grow without media, I grow it like that too.
Many people start losing roots on Vandas (after initial surge)when they put media in the basket. Roots come back when media is removed.
In south Florida, they grow Vanda without media or may be add couple of lava rocks.
If local growers do better with media in Vanda basket, I would do the same.

[MattWoelfsen]

Good points plumania. That is what I do when I scope out a potential purchase at a green house nursery--see how it's been growing there and how long. My additional suggestion is to leave the plant alone as it was at the nursery and do nothing drastic like repotting it. Let the plant get used to its new environment--that is already traumatic. I would try to emulate its former environment as much as practical. I would also keep it quarantine from other plants.

[Laserbeak]

I've lived in Florida and I've lived in New York. From my experience in New York, the winter is just too dry to grow Vandas totally bare root unless you have a true greenhouse or some sophisticated humidifier or misting system. They do much better when they're cut out of the tiny like strawberry carton they come in and get planted old-style in a wooden basket (I think the octagonal ones are much better-looking than the square ones) with very coarse orchid potting mix with plenty of things in it that absorb water.

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[Cpman]

Hey thanks for everyone's comments and advice I think I'm gona leave it as it is for now as humidity isn't really a problem here in PR (right now it's 84% and it's winter) and later I'm probably going to try to put it in a 10inch cedar baskets wit nothing few strips of moss in the corners of the basket for the drier days thanks everyone!! P.S. It's already put out 5 new roots!!!