My First Vanda Bloom Princess Mikasa Blue

[Grandma M]

Your blue and pink vandas are both fantastic. The more I see of vandas the more I fall in love with them.

I'm still fascinated with the way you grow them. I can't understand why they don't grow over the sides of the pot and hang down. How old are your plants. If you get lots of roots, will you need to place it in a larger pot?

Sorry about all the questions but I'm facinated by your method. I have only had vandas for about 3 years so I'm not very experienced. I had several on my deck until a wind blew over the stand they were hanging on and I could only save 3 plants, and one half dead one. BTW that one did survive.

[Ocelaris]

I know, I'm becoming sort of a Vanda Fanatic myself. I've always liked them, but never had any luck until now.

It's just the "glass vase" method. I think the reason it works, is the plants are able to absorb through osmosis the nutrients over that half hour drenching... The big roots actually don't get any water/fertilizer.

Some of the roots do go down, but most just spread straight out, possibly because I have such a huge light source directly in front/back of them; depending on how the are placed.

I have only had the Vandas for about 4 months, none of them had the big roots when I got them though. I'm sure the Princess Mikasa are a few years old, Gordon Dillon is probably 5-7? Others are 1-3 years I suppose.

My new orchidarium is high tech, it will hopefully solve the problem with the big roots not being in the buckets (which get the drenching). It will have a pump and misters that will go on twice a day I think. I could use bigger buckets, but then it would take even more water to soak them. Right now with 7 (3 big, 4 small) I use 2 gallons of water, which I reuse for half a week, but still, making RO water is labor intensive, and the less amount of water I have to "make" the easier it will be.

By the way did you see that picture I posted of your Bangkok Brown? Very pretty orchid!

[Don Perusse]

Yours is very nice, good start. Mine is in bloom now with 2 spikes, 8-10 flowers, measuring 3 1/2" across. Pic in my gallery. Vandas and Asconcendas are my favorite. Have about 20 now. Like the Ascon. because they are smaller and don't grow near as large as Vandas. Good luck, keep growing!

[Grandma M]

Yes I did see the photo and I saved it into my vanda file. I appreciate your finding that for me. I had searched and couldn't find a picture of it. Thanks so much.

The people on this forum are so helpful.


By the way did you see that picture I posted of your Bangkok Brown? Very pretty orchid![/QUOTE]

[Don Perusse]

Hi Grandma M - Yes, I did see the Bankok Brown and it is really different. I've never seen a cross like that one.
I like the shiny look of it but not all that crazy about the color. Pictures don't always do the plant justice....maybe a real one I would like. Thanks.

[Ocelaris]

My Princess Mikasa "Blue" is back at it again! It's in spike once more! Crazy turn around, First pictures were 1/17, and the probably lasted until 2/17, it's 6 weeks later, and it's blooming again! I'm almost a little worried it's blooming too much. The "Pink" one, bloomed a week later, and isn't yet in spike yet... but we shall see.

[cneos]

As long as there are new leaves and roots growing and the roots are sufficient enough to support the plant mass, you can let your Princess Mikasa bloom her silly head off.

[shams]

My Princess Mikassa isn't showing any sign of a new spike yet... but oh what a stogey of a new root is coming off of the main plant. It's only about a half inch long right now... hard to take of, but oh it looks nice. I hope she spikes again soon. If she decides to flower while I'm away this summer, I will be