Vanda in a vase...not doing too great

[LobsterOfJustice]

Hi,
I've been growing a new Vanda in an extra large mason jar (picture below) for about 3 weeks. At first it seemed ok, but I noticed some mold growing on the roots and many of the roots have died (when I put it in the vase, all roots were alive and green). I had been misting it twice daily and filling the vase up to the base of the plant 1-2x per week, depending on how dry it seemed. I fertilize half strength 1x/week and the Vanda gets very bright, full-sun eastern light until about 2pm.

I took it out of the vase, sterilized it with hydrogen peroxide, and cut off the dead roots. Now it's sitting in a smaller, very open vase (more like a bowl than a vase) that is cylinder shaped (diameter around 4"-5" I'm estimating) but only 5" or so tall. It seems fine (only been 3 days...), but I can't get it to sturdily sit in the new vase, and since it n dis to move to the sink to be filled, I need it to be sturdier and not fall out when I pick up the vase.

How have others gotten their vandas to stay in vases? I put it in a 4" basket and sat the basket in the short cylinder vase, but it's only barely sturdier than without the basket. If you look at the picture, this particular vanda has three roots that come straight out the sides, so the vanda can't be pushed any farther into the vase without breaking those roots.

Any ideas on why my mason jar did not work? Not enough air flow for the size? Would it help to get a fan or something to keep near the Vanda if it's in the mason jar?

Any ideas or help is appreciated!
Thanks!





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[Subrosa]

Net pots that fit in the neck of the vase.

[LobsterOfJustice]

The net pots don't block the air flow too much? Also, do you have your vandas in water culture? Do you keep water in the bottom all the time, but not touching roots? Thanks!


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[Subrosa]

They're in water culture, with a portion of the roots constantly in the water. I change the water once or twice a week, replacing it with rain water with 1 tbsp of K-Lite per 5 gal. When I change the water I make certain to wet all the roots. The vases are currently outside and get full sun from just after sunrise until about 2 pm.

[estación seca]

I suspect the mold grew on roots that died because you didn't water them enough. The mold wasn't the problem; it was a sign of the real problem. I don't think watering 1-2 times per week is enough even in your very high humidity.

Mine are in 40%-70% humidity and I absolutely must soak the roots at least once every 24 hours or they begin to dry and die.

Misting the top of the plant does nothing but increase likelihood of fungus on the leaves.

I use a pair of chopsticks tied together to hold the plant near the mouth of the vase. One chopstick is on each side of the base of the plant. I began using very cheap wood chopsticks, but I'm going to switch to the sturdy plastic ones for less warping and no rotting.

I haven't been able to put Vandas straight into water culture. The roots rot back from where they stay wet. I have read they do OK in water culture if the roots themselves grow down into the water.

And as I mentioned in another thread, you aren't fertilizing nearly enough.

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[Bunch_Of_Roots]

Is this a vanda species or hybrid? How hot does your the area where your vanda is get?

In my experience, try to wedge the vanda into the vase as much as you can. Initially the plant will wobble a little, but once it started to grow roots inside the vase it will stabilize. And I do find soaking the roots for a few hours is better in general. And I only soak my vandas in vase culture when their roots are completely white.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have grown Vandas in vases, but always watered by soaking for less than an hour at a time, draining and drying in between. The roots grow and stay healthy this way.

[sruther4d]

I have a Vanda in a net basket inside a vase. It has been outside all summer. It has grown about 5-6 leaves for the summer. We just had 8 inches of rain fall within a 48 hour period. The vase filled and I dumped the water. I have roots almost black because they have been over saturated this summer. I will simply cut them off and move on as other roots have grown to replace it. To me, your plant looks healthy. If it is growing leaves that is another indication it is healthy. I am waiting for the cooler night temps to come so that blooming "genes" kick in. I would be patient and only be concerned when all your roots start to go black. My 2 cents.

[LobsterOfJustice]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the suggestions! I switched to a vase that was more open at the top, and started filling the vase all the way up every morning, letting it soak 5-10 minutes, and then pouring it out and it seems to be doing great, lots of new root tips have started growing!

I've also increased the fertilizer - I keep full strength fertilizer in a pitcher and use it for about a week (pour it into the jar, dump it back to it's pitcher, repeat in a few days). I switch between using full strength fertilizer, half strength (fill it halfway with fertilizer water, fill the rest with tap water) and then regular water, so the vandas are getting full fertilizer 2x per week, half strength 2x per week, and regular water 3x per week.

I also mist the roots outside of the vases at least 1x per day and try to dip them in the fertilizer water when I remember. Everything seems to be doing fine with this watering schedule!

I'll post pictures when I get the chance to take new ones of all the new root growth!

Thanks again!

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by sruther4d

I have a Vanda in a net basket inside a vase. It has been outside all summer. It has grown about 5-6 leaves for the summer. We just had 8 inches of rain fall within a 48 hour period. The vase filled and I dumped the water. I have roots almost black because they have been over saturated this summer.

If the roots are normal diameter and then turn black, that is algae growing on the roots, and the roots are still healthy and good. It is not a problem at all. When the roots shrink to tiny little strings and turn black they are dead.