Question about potting vanda ustii

[judith_arquette]

I have a very small vanda ustii that came in a slotted plastic basket in sphag. I've noticed a lot of pics show them growing bare root. Should I take the sphag out and just water more frequently? Some of the lower leaves are yellowing from the tip in too, any ideas on why this might be?

[annak]

I believe a photo would help.
Do you have high humidity? Young plants need some substrate, while most grown up ones do not like it. Also I have seen Vanda ustii potted in lava, growing nicely and blooming.

[judith_arquette]

I keep a humidifier going 24/7 unless we have rain for a few days. I believe it's still fairly young. Here's a pic

[annak]

Nice young plant. What I would do, and not sure is the best so wait for others to help, is leave it on the same net pot, with a mix of good bark and some sphagnum for a year or two.
I have tried to raise some Vanda hybrids' seedlings bare rooted and I was not very happy with them. Put them in pots with lava, still not very happy. Next step would be the bark, as they are three years old by now, but I have always questioned my first bare rooted attempt...

[Bud]

That's at least a two year old Vanda....your instincts are right=remove the moss. The roots need to breathe and see the light so if you want to pot it do it with a well draining large mix and a transparent plastic pot so some light can get to the roots. Bare root for seedlings is advisable if you have high humidity in your environment. But you will have dryness in the winter unless you give it steam from your heater added with that electric humidifier you mentioned.

[judith_arquette]

Thanks!

[dendro king]

I hang my vandas up so that the air drys them out quicker. Mine are potted in charcoal and gravel in the same baskets, hanging up 1meter from the ground.