Vanda care!

[Optimist]

Hi, I just ordered a packet of "species orchids" from Carmela's, which are to be blooming or nearly blooming size, and when I saw the size of the box (19") vs the weight of the box, I said to myself, OH NO! Vandas!

So now, I am like a boxer before a sudden world title match that was never planned!

Sorry to say, I kill vandas. I just got an ascofinita! Nearly dead. Vanda die within a month if I get them.

Let this not happen now! I am only good with Cattleyas really, maybe some paphs. I barely learned how not to kill phals.

So in a desert environment, how do you not kill vandas?

I have lots of sun, no humidity. My little humidity pond is in a shady shade-house. I will take my shade cloth off because I feel there are enough leafy branches overhead now.

So, full-ish sun, soak or water every day-- twice? Let dry out. Once a month with the Kelp. Any other tips? Estacion in AZ-- do you have vandas outside?

Now obviously, there might not be vandas, but I have this wierd sense that there are. Even if not, I would like to save this Asco finita. I have it in full sun now, and am soaking in water and some K-L-N rooting hormone because I do not have any of that Kelp max. I have Kelp but no max.

[KonaLinda]

I cannot grow vandas just hanging in a basket. I put them in a large pot with large bark. The bark is just tossed in not packed. That helps maintain some moisture as I don't water as often as I should. And they are not in full sun. That doesn't work for me so they are under tree branches. Actually, "money" trees. Haven't seen any money fall from them however!

[estación seca]

The worst fears are of the unknown. Open the box!

First, everybody in the world with bare-root Vandas needs to water them at least once per day. In Florida, where I have heard they sometimes may not have rain for 2-3 days in a row, they water twice per day on hot days.

I spray the roots of mine with a spray bottle at least once per day, and I soak the roots in water overnight 1-2 times per week. I have a warm sunroom in the winter so they grow all year. If I don't spray every day, and twice when it's warm, they begin to shrivel. That's why I do the regular soaks. I think people in more humid places can't get away with regular soaks like I can.

I have a patio covered in polycarbonate that has about the right light for succulents and Vandas. I have thought about setting up a spray system there on a standard irrigation valve timer, to go off for a minute 3-4 times per day. This might work for the seasons when we're below 105F / 40.5C.

The roots need to return to the white, dry condition for a while between waterings, but I guarantee that won't be a problem for you.

Our climates are too hot and arid for them to be outside in the sun when it's over about 85 F / 29C. If you put a fan on them they probably will not burn in sun up to somewhere between 95 - 100 F / 35-38C, but they will dry out rapidly. I don't do this because I don't have time to water them properly. Outside in dappled shade, they should avoid burning, but there will be the water issue.

I haven't figured out how to grow them in pots like so many others say they do, so I keep up the daily watering. It would be interesting to hear from somebody in a hot, low-humidity climate who grows Vandas in pots. Kona is on the desert side of the Big Island, and they get even less rain than we do (but a they have lot more humidity. I wish I'd take that job in Kailua-Kona back in 1991. I love to row.)

The root tips should be green and actively growing at all times. If they aren't it means not enough water.

Vandas don't seem to mind alkaline, mineral-laden desert water. Other orchids sure do.

Oh, and they need very heavy fertilizing. I have heard 2 Vanda nurserymen say they use between 2 teaspoons / 10ml powder to 2 tablespoons / 30ml powder of Miracle Gro per gallon of water every 5th watering. Until I started fertilizing heavily my seedlings didn't grow much.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Search on this forum and elsewhere for "vase culture". Roots in an empty vase, soak roots in vase daily (up to an hour) then drain. Fertilizer added weekly to the soak water. Grow outdoors when you can. Adapt gradually to bright sunlight.

[Optimist]

Great Advice! Makes me more confident "If" there are vandas, and to care for this ascofinita. As for growing root tips. Those are gone on the asco, if I ever had any. That is my first chore, to get some growing root tips.

[Jenascrich]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Hi, I just ordered a packet of "species orchids" from Carmela's, which are to be blooming or nearly blooming size, and when I saw the size of the box (19") vs the weight of the box, I said to myself, OH NO! Vandas!



So now, I am like a boxer before a sudden world title match that was never planned!



Sorry to say, I kill vandas. I just got an ascofinita! Nearly dead. Vanda die within a month if I get them.



Let this not happen now! I am only good with Cattleyas really, maybe some paphs. I barely learned how not to kill phals.



So in a desert environment, how do you not kill vandas?



I have lots of sun, no humidity. My little humidity pond is in a shady shade-house. I will take my shade cloth off because I feel there are enough leafy branches overhead now.



So, full-ish sun, soak or water every day-- twice? Let dry out. Once a month with the Kelp. Any other tips? Estacion in AZ-- do you have vandas outside?



Now obviously, there might not be vandas, but I have this wierd sense that there are. Even if not, I would like to save this Asco finita. I have it in full sun now, and am soaking in water and some K-L-N rooting hormone because I do not have any of that Kelp max. I have Kelp but no max.

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[Jenascrich]

Hi optimist, I was going to buy one of those box specials. Were there any other species in the box? Besides the Vanda, did you like the variety?


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