Did I overwater my Vanda?

[kwarren]

My large Vanda "Pachara Delight" flowers well twice a year. I spray it well twice each morning with very dilute fertilized rainwater. Even when the roots are dry to the touch they are a dark green color. Sometimes I soak the entire root mass in a 5 gallon container for 10 -15 minutes. I recently submerged the roots and forgot about it and didn't notice my mistake until 12 hours later. I hung it up to dry out and the roots aren't soft but I'm concerned that the roots have been seriously damaged by being soaked for so long. I'd appreciate some one's experienced advise please.

[fooferdoggie]

I have messed up panda roots myself but it takes more then once to do it. prolonged water can damage them I have to keep mine in vases and if water pools on the bottom and the roots even sit in that small puddle they will go bad.

[estación seca]

If only the roots, not the leaves, are submerged, they will not likely be damaged for even 24-48 hours of immersion. I routinely leave mine to soak overnight. Sometimes I forget before I go to work and they soak for almost 24 hours. This has never caused damage.

[Bud]

You can never overwater that kind of Vanda since it is in a basket. The roots will dry and the air around it is a great help. I have that particular hybrid that I have on vase culture in the dryer part of the season and it can be submerged in water for a week and still thrive.

[estación seca]

I have to add something - I have not been able to submerge roots for more than 4-5 days without serious root damage. I know others here do so successfully, but it has not worked for me. I have tried several times, in hot weather and in moderate weather.

Also the tops of Vandas will die if you submerge the entire plant for more than 24 hours.

[kwarren]

Thank you gentlemen for taking the time to share your experience with Vandas with me. I really appreciate it. I feel much better now!

[Bud]

This picture is from a French man who grows his Vanda in vase culture....this means the plant is submerged all the time in water....but in vase culture, it is necessary to refresh the water and clean the vase weekly to minimize bacterial growth.

[kwarren]

Thank you so much Bud! I've heard of vanda growers that grow them in a vase but it was hard for me to believe. You're the first to advise the important point to completely refresh the water once a week. Our city water is very hard but since I use collected rain water and add a little diluted fertilizer, I'm sure I would succeed. I have only two Vandas; the one pictured, which is very large, and a smaller one. I could easily find a glass vase to fit the smaller one's roots. Thanks again so much! My heart goes out to you because of your heavy snows and very cold temperatures.

[estación seca]

Vandas are far more tolerant of high water mineral content than most orchids. Vanda growers in Florida have some of the hardest water in the US, and regularly water with well water. Plus they add fertilizer to the water. I now use my very hard tap water for my Vandas, and save the stored rain for other orchids.

Bud, that photo is the definition of tantalizing. Even changing water regularly, rain or tap, I haven't been able to make that work. Maybe it has to do with my warmer temperatures.

[kwarren]

Well, thank you again for sharing your experience. It's good to know that Vandas are tolerant of hard water. I admit I spray the roots with my hose end sprayer sometimes using city water because it supplies calcium and magnesium. But some of my orchids get only fertilized rain water. My 65 gallon rain barrel was recently empty but we got 1/4 inch of rain for the first time in 2 months here in Oklahoma City and my barrel is now thankfully full.