Vanda watering advice needed
 

I am still very new to Vandaceous orchids and I am realizing that they are not getting enough water. I live in New York, and it is winter, so I've been worried about overwatering, but now I see I have problems.

I've been researching the vase method, which I'd like to try. Or, in the very least, I know I need to soak them rather than spray their roots. I was worried about overwatering, but now I see I underwatered because the bottom leaves are turning yellow on all of them and there is some wrinkling where the leaves meet the stem. One of my vandaceous orchids, with a keiki, has the keiki now dying (all 3 of its leaves are turning yellow).

All this being said - I know I need to do some sort of rescue methods. I've seen in places that I should soak the roots for a long time (24 hours?). Can I soak them in water with MSU fertilizer for that amount of time? Or should I do the fertilizer water first, for a shorter time, and then soak in plain water for a longer period of time?

Any help you can offer is much appreciated. I want to be a better vanda parent and need advice..

They need a lot of water, especially in a low humidity home. It's no problem soaking for 24 hours if they dry after that. I've done that many times. To rehydrate you might need to do 2-3 long soaks in a week.

After that watering depends on your temperatures, humidity and how much time you have. The roots should get completely wet and green every day if you have low humidity. You could do a short soak each day or long soaks every 2-3 days.

Yes, you can long soak with fertilizer. Vandas use more fertilizer than other orchids.

Is your light appropriate? They need good light.

There is a thread here called Vandas in Vases by jcec1. Have a look at it.

Thank you!
 

Thank you so much for your reply! I will definitely water for 24 hours with some MSU fertilizer to make up for any lacks I may have caused (water and nutrient). Hopefully the keiki will survive. There is still some green on her leaves, so I have some hope.

Thank you also for letting me know which particular thread to go to for the details on vase culture. I did read lots of threads, but not the one you mentioned and I am hoping that the one you mentioned has all the details I need to try this new method with confidence.

Thankfully, they do receive enough light. In fact, the Bangkok Sunset might be getting too much, because her leaves have lots of purple now and they weren't that way when I bought her from the nursery. I have since put up a sheer curtain to soften the light in the south-facing window the vandaceous orchids reside in.

Again, many thanks! I am so grateful!