Vanda Keiki?

[sparklegirl46]

Hello all - I have a Vanda that is producing two keikis at the base of the plant. The rest of the plant is not looking all that great, and appears to be putting out roots a couple of inches above the base where the babies are (see arrow in photo)

I have no idea what to do with this plant. I would appreciate any help or thoughts about what is going on with the plant.

Thank you!!

[SaraJean]

To be honest, Vandas are not my forte but, to my eyes, that vanda (from what I can see in the pic) doesn’t look too bad. A few dropped leaves and it could use some more roots, but I don’t see any signs of rot. I like to leave keikis of any orchid type on the mother plant for a time until they develop a decent root system of their own. Or you could just leave them connected and let the whole vanda turn into a nice multi growth plant. I have seen a few vandas that have been grown that way and they put on spectacular show when they are in bloom.

[sparklegirl46]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

To be honest, Vandas are not my forte but, to my eyes, that vanda (from what I can see in the pic) doesn’t look too bad. A few dropped leaves and it could use some more roots, but I don’t see any signs of rot. I like to leave keikis of any orchid type on the mother plant for a time until they develop a decent root system of their own. Or you could just leave them connected and let the whole vanda turn into a nice multi growth plant. I have seen a few vandas that have been grown that way and they put on spectacular show when they are in bloom.

Thank you, SaraJean, that seems to be the easiest thing for me as I don't feel confident in trying to remove them. My concern is the roots (I think that's what they are) that are appearing above the babies. Should I just leave the plant alone, and let it continue to do whatever it is doing?

[Roberta]

Just let it do what it's doing... aerial roots come naturally to Vandas.

[estación seca]

Vanda alliance orchids usually branch. Just leave them alone. The vegetative offsets aren't ready to separate until they're very much larger, and have their own extensive roots system. The plants are much more impressive with lots of growths together, and lots of flowers.

Well-grown Vandas don't drop lower leaves until the stems are very long. The commonest causes of leaf drop are insufficient watering and too-cold temperatures. Most Vandas need to be kept above 50 F / 10C, and the warmer the better.

Most Vandas need to have their roots thoroughly soaked at least once a day. With an adequate watering the roots turn completely green. A single spray with water is not enough. If you just watered your plant before taking the photo, you didn't wet the roots enough. There is still some white showing. Put the roots into a bucket or pan with water for an hour and look at them again. That is how they should look after each watering.

If grown in less than optimal humidity, they may need watering twice a day, or they may need their roots soaked in water for an hour or so every day. The leaves should have no fine, linear wrinkles. The wrinkles indicate not enough watering.

[sparklegirl46]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Just let it do what it's doing... aerial roots come naturally to Vandas.

Thank you!!! I'm so glad - I thought maybe it was dying...

---------- Post added at 03:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:23 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

Vanda alliance orchids usually branch. Just leave them alone. The vegetative offsets aren't ready to separate until they're very much larger, and have their own extensive roots system. The plants are much more impressive with lots of growths together, and lots of flowers.

Well-grown Vandas don't drop lower leaves until the stems are very long. The commonest causes of leaf drop are insufficient watering and too-cold temperatures. Most Vandas need to be kept above 50 F / 10C, and the warmer the better.

Most Vandas need to have their roots thoroughly soaked at least once a day. With an adequate watering the roots turn completely green. A single spray with water is not enough. If you just watered your plant before taking the photo, you didn't wet the roots enough. There is still some white showing. Put the roots into a bucket or pan with water for an hour and look at them again. That is how they should look after each watering.

If grown in less than optimal humidity, they may need watering twice a day, or they may need their roots soaked in water for an hour or so every day. The leaves should have no fine, linear wrinkles. The wrinkles indicate not enough watering.

Thank you. I am in Southwest Florida, so humidity or lack thereof is not an issue. I had just watered it, soaked it in a bucket for 15 minutes. I did not cover the roots completely, because I was afraid of drowning the babies and waterlogging the lower part of the plant where the leaves are.

Good info, and I appreciate it.

[MamaTurtle]

I am in a similar situation: my Vanda produced two keikis at the base and some new roots above the keikis. The mother plant became so wobbly. Upon close inspection, I realised it has broken off from the base. Can anyone please tell me if the keikis will survive on the remaining old stem and roots?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by MamaTurtle

I am in a similar situation: my Vanda produced two keikis at the base and some new roots above the keikis. The mother plant became so wobbly. Upon close inspection, I realised it has broken off from the base. Can anyone please tell me if the keikis will survive on the remaining old stem and roots?

That is probably exactly what those keikis are doing - the break of the top of the plant may have happened first, the keikis were a survival response. Leave them as they are and they should be fine, eventually will add to the root system. If there are any (aerial) roots on the mother plant, it may very well survive... if there aren't any, it may still produce some if you can keep it in a humid area(maybe under a plastic bag as a "tent") so that it doesn't dessicate while it is working on roots.

[MamaTurtle]

Thank you Roberta for the encouraging words! I will make sure they are all well hydrated.

[VeronicaUlloa]

I'm wondering, hoping, this thread is still active or being viewed. I've only recently gotten into orchids and have been trying to rescue a Vanda orchid my mother had laying around the yard completely discarded. I found it with only two roots and two keikis coming out the sides. I made the ultimate MISTAKE... I separated the mum from the keikis thinking that would be easier to save all three. Needless to say now all three are suffering and I don't know how to get them to send out new roots. They are all rootless. Any and all advice would be welcomed please.