Vanda propagation- large overgrown plants

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Depending on what your Vanda looks like, they may not grow any more new shoots from the very bottom anymore. If they're as large as you say they are, I'm willing to bet that some of the bottom leaves have already fallen off, leaving behind a woody stem with living roots. If this is the case, then they will usually not sprout from the very bottom anymore. They will sprout new shoots from in between the axils of the lower leaves and start branching that way.

I generally don't like topping off any Vandas because it sometimes causes problems. The top may not establish and might die on you. If the top does end up establishing, then good, but if it doesn't, that's the risk you take with topping off Vandas. If the cutting and the mother plant does establish, they will usually take a very long time to do so. To me this is not worth the risk.

Same thing with the side branches. I usually leave those on now. I've tried this twice on one of my Vandas, and the first time only the branch off died because it failed to establish. The second time, I tried, the branch off died again on the same Vanda. A few months later, the mother plant gave up too.

From my past experiences, I do not recommend topping Vandas off to anyone growing Vandas. Especially if they are very rare Vandas.

Maybe other people had had wild success with topping Vandas off, but from my personal experience, I cannot dish this technique off as good advice to a Vanda grower. For me, there are not enough advantages to warrant doing it.

I let all my Vandas grow wild. So I'm advising you on how to handle a Vanda the way I'd grow a Vanda. Just my .

[JambaJungle]

Phillip,
Thanks for the insight into your experiences. I have already topped off 6 plants, but all already had 2 or more large roots. It has been almost 3 months now, and all the tops are doing fine, actively growing and many sprouting new roots.
The bottoms are another story. None of them have any leaves, but all have large root systems. There is still no sign of new leaves....but the roots continue to grow, and in a couple plants, actually sprouting new roots. At this point, it is just a waiting game. It costs me nothing to let them hang in there (literally) , So as long as the roots are alive, I will wait them out.
I still have 2 plants that are over 5'tall, and i have not topped off as there are no roots on the top portions. I would agree with you that it is not worth the risk to lose the plant. I will wait and hope for new roots before I put them to the ax!

[Fairorchids]

The rule of thumb for topping Vandas (if you don't wait for basal keikis to appear first):

Top should have 2-3 roots.

Bottom should have min 2-4 leaves.

[Plodde]

I am soo happy to report that there is something growing on my Aerides houlletiana.

I mentioned before that i had to cut off the top 50% of my houlletiana due to really bad sunburn that caused the stem to become mushy.

Now there is a new growth coming up between the leaves!! It just went out of flower about a month ago so I'm betting this isn't another flower spike, and it doesn't look like a root.

What do you guys think??
So excited that something is happening!!

Ps. I cut the top off on 6/30/15 and from everyones comments this would be extremely fast for a keiki. But maybe i will be just that lucky!

[wintergirl]

I'm thinking large root tip. Please keep us posted.

[JambaJungle]

Too early to tell for sure, but i'd say it looks like a root to me. Time will tell.

[My Green Pets]

Probably a root, but something about the roundness and color make me wonder if it's not a new growth?

[Plodde]

Originally Posted by CambriaWhat

Probably a root, but something about the roundness and color make me wonder if it's not a new growth?

It really doesn't look like a root to me. I wish i could get a better close up. But i will post another picture when it gets little bigger.

[JambaJungle]

I wanted to post an update.
14 weeks out.
4 plants "chopped" .All tops had healthy roots and doing fine.
Bottoms all with healthy roots, but no leaves.
2 bottoms have sprouted a new growing lead.
1 bottom appears to be in decline, roots dying.
1 bottom still has active root growth, but no new growing lead.

[Plodde]

I also wanted to do a small update, and let everyone know that the mystery growth on my Aerides houlletiana is a keiki!!!

Very happy to be reporting this!