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

[Dollythehun]

Ok, I'm really branching out (and I blame Roberta). I just bought this little Vandachostylis. I've researched care. It looks like it should have the same care as my Rhy. Bancock Sunset.

Orchidweb suggests potting in a moss lined basket with I assume, some kind of coconut husk or large bark to stabilize it, and bright light with water 2x a week. What can you guys add? Its currently in a plastic pot and if it needs sheet moss, it will have to wait until Wednesday.

[No-Pro-mwa]

[Dollythehun]

again

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Ok, I'm really branching out (and I blame Roberta). I just bought this little Vandachostylis. I've researched care. It looks like it should have the same care as my Rhy. Bancock Sunset.

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Sorry... One orchid is like one potato chip... But if your Rhynchostylis is happy, the one crossed with Vanda should be too under similar conditions. And it sounds gorgeous... but I do have a soft spot for coerulea anything.

[Dollythehun]

And I pot it how? My guys are not doing anything, a leaf or two and maybe a root in a year. My Rhyc. Bancock Sunset is doing best of the tribe. Paint dries much faster.

[Ray]

In my experience, most vandaceous plants have a spring/summer growth spurt, followed by a period of vegetative stagnation, and that's when they throw spikes.

They like heat, humidity and high light, frequent watering, followed by a fast dry-out. Choose your container and medium (if any) accordingly.

[estación seca]

Vandas grow new leaves constantly when they're happy. They will grow all year if it's warm and bright enough, and they have enough water and fertilizer.

In cold-winter climates they often slow down when homes aren't kept as warm as the Vandas prefer. Most Vandas would prefer days in the 85-90 F / 30-32C range, or higher, but accept lower temperatures. They prefer warm nights, too, but survive mostly undamaged down to about 60 F / 15.5C. Vanda coerulea comes from cooler areas, so it may take somewhat cooler nights.

Rhynchostylis grow slower than most other members of the group, but they too can remain actively growing leaves and roots all year. They are not cool-loving plants.

Martin Motes and Robert Fuchs of RF Orchids both give their bare-root Vandas 1-2 tablespoons (TABLESPOONS, TBS, 15ml) of 20-20-20 fertilizer per gallon / 3.78 liter of water every 5th watering throughout the year. They water their plants every morning, and sometimes every afternoon. That works out to one fertilizing every 2 1/2 - 5 days.

They say seedlings need even more fertilizer than adult plants.

There is supposed to be a pale green zone of newly-grown tissue at the base of the emerging leaves, about a centimeter wide. If there isn't such a band, the plant isn't being fertilized enough.

The roots need to be soaking wet once a day if not in medium. If grown in medium the roots should take a few days to dry. Medium to large bark seems to work for these in containers. Look up posts here by Fairorchids about how he grows Vandas in pots. The happiest Vandas I've seen in pots look relatively overpotted compared to Cattleyas of the same plant size.

[Dollythehun]

My plan since this is a cross, which I believe is similar to Lou Sneary "Bluebird?" Is to do as orchid web suggested. Lining a wooden basket with sheet moss, inserting the plant and adding something chunky for stability. My Bankok Sunset has that margin as you suggested some time ago. I apologize for this very ungrammatical post.

[Pattywack]

Dolly, congratulations on your new plant! Aside from Neofinetia I have never grown any Vandas and I decided to try a Neostylis Lou Sneary ‘Bluebird’. This thread is a help to me as I want to repot my plant after it flowers and I was unsure what to use for a pot. I’m leaning towards the wood basket myself as I really like using them.

The Neostylis is huge compared to my Neos and it has a new spike soon to open, can’t wait! This plant would be odd growing in a moss mound, believe the basket and chunky bark may be the way to go.

I hope you’ll post pictures when you’ve potted yours.

[Dollythehun]

Patty, can I see yours, please? How much light are you using? It was my understanding that the cross takes slightly less light and is more forgiving than a vanda. I got this because the 'Bluebirds' were very expensive, this was a smaller pot but, much less.

Perhaps we should document our adventures on these?