Frozen vanda

[Optimist]

I don't know much about vandas, but I have gone through the experience you went though, and I was totally ticked off at the seller, and then myself. If you go to reputable orchid sellers sites most will say "I will not sell during winter weather" but on ebay, they just pack it up and ship it. My frozen orchid experience happened due to a freak winter storm in Texas. They could not get the trucks out so they stacked everything up in a warehouse, and it did not matter if there was a 72 hour heat pack or not--- it just froze to death.

My take-away was that I would not buy any orchids from October to April-- no matter how great a sale, or no matter how cheap, or wonderful. I bought my frozen orchid on a sunny day, when the weather was great. The night it died was an anomaly of nature, and I would not have that happen again (If only to save 30 dollars).

I hope your vanda survives.

[Mountain Kat]

I think I have learned my lesson on winter purchases. I did buy from two other sources that pack with heat packs and while those orchids look pretty good - time will tell. They were definitely cold when I received them - but maybe not for too long since they arrived in 2-3 days.

As for the vanda, I'm going to try to keep her warm and humid.

Thanks for all the advice!

[Bud]

The plant is not frozen nor is it dying. It would take 24 hours direct exposure to below 32 degrees F for the plant to freeze and defrosting a frozen plant at room temperature will make it mushy like you boiled it for an hour. I am sure it was wrapped in paper and the corrugated cardboard of the box serves as an insulator. The room temp was preserved inside the box and deep freeze did not enter it. The postal truck and the post office is heated. The most the plant got exposed to freeze was from the postman's carrying it to your doorstep yet it is inside the box, so there....
I suggest do a water therapy. Get a glass vase and soak the roots in room temp water overnight since you put it in a dry environment (bathroom) when you got it first. Put the plant in the brightest window. Vandas love humidity (I have an electric humidifier with a fan), warmth (my room is at constant 80F) and bright sun. All my Vandas are happy and healthy because I emulate to their habitat in the wild. Adding electric lighting will help.