Vanda Pakchong Blue times two

[Orchid Whisperer]

I'd never purchased any Vandas before 2013. Last year, I thought I would try some to see how they would do. I bought several young plants, bagged varieties from the local big-box store, including a V. Pakchong Blue 'Giant'. Roots not in great shape but not too horrible, leaves a bit dehydrated, but manageable. A second plant that was labeled on the outside of the package as a red hybrid also turned out to be another V. Pakchong Blue 'Giant'. Oh well, 2 of the same thing - could be worse. All of the plants are growing as vase culture plants (much easier to manage those crazy roots).

After 1 year, both plants hit their first bloom. When the spike started, one moved into my office, the other stayed at home. Both are now in bloom - first flowering with 2 blooms each.

Here's a couple photos of the plant at the office (sorry - only camera available is on my phone):






Here are the pictures of the one that is at home:



Of course, it is also growing in the same type of container, no medium.

Here is a close-up of the blooms; they are 4 inches across; just 2 of them but hey, it is a first-bloom plant:

[Jade]

Very nice. Congrats

[brsucculents]

very nice light blue. Great growing for 1 year. I'm amazed at all those roots.

[LovePhals]

Are you growing these indoors by a window? If so, where does it face? Vase culture didn't work for me; I now grow mine in pots. Your two vandas look great and beautiful blooms!

[Orchid Whisperer]

Thanks all.

LovePhals, last winter they were grown on a windowsill, facing west. During the summer they were acclimated slowly to the highest light section of my outdoor orchid bench, then later moved gradually into even more sun. When they are finished blooming they will go under lights on my indoor bench. Next summer I will try moving them to high sun a little faster.

[Vanda lover]

Beautiful! I used to have a Pachong blue but it had more tessellation and was darker. You'll find this one is a good bloomer. Mine would bloom 3 to 4 times a year, usually around 8 flowers each spike.

[WhiteRabbit]

Lovely!

[Orchid Whisperer]

I posted the same photos etc. over on the Orchidgeeks site, someone there asked me for the how-to information on how I grew these plants in vase culture, thought others might be interested (note: question at the end for those of you with more experience growing Vandas, etc.):

Although I'm definitely NOT a Vanda expert, I can sum up what I did with these & other Vandas which have not bloomed yet, but which are in vase culture.

I started with just placing the plants suspended bare root in a glass vase. I watered 2 to 3 times a week, soaking the roots for 15 minutes or so (most watering, just a pinch, literally, of fertilizer in a gallon of water, plus a little Ca and Mg supplementation; not terribly scientific on the amounts). At the time (late fall 2013-winter-early spring 2014), the plants were in a west-facing window in my office. No special humidity management. Sometimes when things got busy, the watering routine was a little uneven (sometimes watering was missed, or a soak lasted longer than planned).

Late spring & summer, plants moved outdoors, I decided glass vases were not the best idea for outdoor culture. I decided re-purposed plastic containers were a good choice, especially 1-liter seltzer bottles, top cut off (smaller containers for smaller plants). I cut small slits in the bottom that allow water to drain out after watering (these are not big drainage holes). Small holes (just 4 or so) were cut in the sides of the bottle too, just to allow a little air flow. I did not want many places for roots to go through the side of the bottle (when growing, I pushed root tips back in if they started to "escape", the goal was to keep the roots contained; sometimes broke escaping root off; oh well). An inch or two of large pebbles were put in the bottom of the bottle, mostly just to provide weight so the containers did not tip over. Otherwise, no medium in the bottles. I mostly used a pump sprayer to spray the roots inside the bottles, sometimes with fertilizer, sometimes without, most water was rain water, with or without nutrients added. I continue to grow the plants this way after moving them indoors to a bench under grow lights.

Outdoors, I tried to get the plants used to the highest light end of my outdoor bench in the spring (Cattleya light). Late summer, I gradually moved them into even higher light, away from my orchid bench. There are a few small sunburn spots on the leaves, but not too bad.

That is essentially it.

For growers of Vandaceous plants (especially Vanda, Rhynchostylis, Arachnis), I have a question. I have plants of these genera that are presently growing and not in vase culture. I am thinking of moving them into plastic bottles next summer, but the roots on these plants are currently growing all over and I suspect it will be difficult to put them all in a "vase". What do you think would be the result if I had to trim roots to get them into a vase? Is this likely to shock the plant too much? Will they sulk for a bit but recover? The Rhynchostylis gigantea I have has too many roots spread all over the place if I can't adapt it to be more contained, like the Vandas pictured. The one Vanda not in a vase also has roots spread all over (big; it may need to go if I can't contain it). My Arachnis is a bit more manageable at the moment (I know these can get huge; it was a cutting given to me. I may need to give it away at some point if it is too large before it blooms).

Any advice appreciated.

[Vanda lover]

I think that if you trim the roots it would set the plants way back. it could be a long time before they bloom.

[Chatbud]

Is that the true colour?
Most cameras aren't able to capture the true purple tone of vandas.

See the Pakchong blue on fb: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1483...query=pakchong