Vandachostylis ‘Tan Geat Leng’ aka Rhy. Coerulescens ‘T’ x Vandacoerulescens ‘Blue

[Pattywack]

Dolly, I am growing this plant for now under 5000k cfl natural daylight bulb. The bulb is about 6 inches from the plant. I’ve only had this since Valentine’s Day and it had/has purple coloring on the leaves, I assumed it had been receiving high light.

I had a gift certificate from J&L so decided to add this plant to my order, never dreamed it would be this large. It certainly dwarfed it’s traveling companions! I paid $35.00 for my plant and for the size, I’m not complaining.

It is potted in a plastic pot in a mix of bark, spaghnum and tree fern pieces with styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of the pot. It dries quickly and I’m watering daily and spray the roots two or three times a day.

When it arrived it had an old spike with one pretty flower left and this new spike about two inches long. Thankfully it is continuing to develop and there are eight buds! I’m pretty excited about the flowers.

Just for comparison, my Neofinetia are under 6500k lights so this one is receiving a bit less. Anyway, here is the ‘Bluebird’

[Pattywack]

Here you can see the purple coloration, a few leaves have this as well on their underside.

[Dollythehun]

Yes, my Bankok Sunset has that coloration. It's in a south window with some residual light from above. It's in a basket within a basket draped in synthic for moisture. It gets soaked every day.

[Pattywack]

Is there anything in the basket? Bark or anything? I think I may pot mine in a wood basket with chunky bark and hang it in a kitchen window. My kitchen has SE, S and SW exposure windows so this may be better than under lights and being in the kitchen, I could/would water more frequently. As is the light seems to be sufficient though I’ve not had this plant long enough to really determine if it is or not.

I assume you have not received your new plant yet? It is always exciting, every time a new plant is arriving.

[Dollythehun]

It's here in a tall 2.5" pot. I'll probably pot it tomorrow. There is synthic draped in the basket of Bankok Sunset. Kim told me to use sphag but it was icky so I switched it out. I can easily rinse off the synthic. I had hoped it would take less light than a vanda.

[Pattywack]

Oh, I can’t wait to see the new one! I thought you were awaiting it’s arrival as there were no pictures posted.

Orchid Web shows medium light levels for ‘Bluebird’ but it seems most grow this one in higher light. What is medium light anyway? If I use a wood basket I’ll probably add some sphag and might drape some Spanish moss on the top just because I like the look of it. It grows and flowers too when happy.

I’ve been reluctant to repot or monkey around with different light levels while the spike is developing. I’m so happy it didn’t abort while acclimating.

So show us your new baby.

[Dollythehun]

It is the last one on the right. I'll add another in a bit. I'm starting to wonder if one can have too much light.

[Pattywack]

It looks very nice! Apparently you have been shopping and expanding your collection. I think I see another addition that we share, can’t really read the tag. Do you have Oncidium pumilum?! They are sooo cool! I visited Al’s Orchids a couple of weeks ago and picked one of these up. I love the speckled leaves and the blooms will be amazing for such a small plant.

It looks like you have a nice group of new plants. As for too much light, if I can maintain the purple coloration I’ll be happy and I hope the Neostylis will be as well.

[Dollythehun]

Oncidium pumilum, yes. I'm excited about it too!

[estación seca]

I keep pushing the light with Vandas until they start getting a little stressed. A fan blowing on the plant will keep the leaves at ambient air temperature, and prevent burning from light on the leaves. I use this spring and fall when I put plants outside in our full sun. Even on days to around 100 F / 38C there will be no burning with a good breeze on the leaves.