New Vanda/Ascocenda

[JennS]

Well, lucky for me, my birthday is in two days, and my grandmother decided to try her hand at 5 new orchids a couple of weeks ago. Well, she determined they do not like her and gave one to a neighbor with the other 4 to come to me. I have gotten one of them already which is some sort of vanda or ascocenda. I got to see it when it was near the end of it's flowering and it had orangeish/yellowish flowers that were similar in size to my Princess Mikasa. Anyway, the tag says Vanda Hybrid as the plant was bought on the side of the road, but then there is another tag at the top that appears to say Ascocenda. I guess without pictures we can't really speculate what it is....

Anyway, the really exciting part is that this baby has several basal (not sure if this is the right word) kekis growing. Not, 1, 2, 3 or 4, but 5!!!! I have never seen them on a vanda in person so I am thrilled
They don't appear to have their own roots yet, but it is hard to determine with all those kekis and other roots! Any advice on how to remove them (when they have their own roots) and what to do with them?

[Don Perusse]

I heard or read once that you should not cut off a keiki on a vanda until it has bloomed. Not sure if it ment the original vanda or the keiki itself. I know this is not any help to you but I wish you good luck, and this one can go on my "will accept keikis list".

[cneos]

Leave the keikis alone. There is nothing lovelier than a well-grown ascocenda with inflorescences on the main fan and the keikis.

[Don Perusse]

I definately will keep that in mind and not be so quick with the shears. Cneos, I've seen some of your vanda before and as always real beauties.

[JennS]

I was actually just wondering about that to myself.... Should be working, but thinking about orchids instead...what a life!

I was thinking if there was any way to just leave the keikis on, if they woudln't negatively affect the mother plant or if they would eventually bloom or not. I am a big fan of having very large, specimen type plants and space it not a problem. Well, not yet anyway! I think I will just leave them and possibly seperate one or two for gifts, but leave the other 3-4. How exciting....

Thank you for the wonderful advice and beautiful picture. How many different plants could that one have been if you hadn't left the keikis intact?

[JennS]

Oh, sorry, more ?'s...What type of Asc. is that in the picture? I don't have any reds and it is beautiful. Also, how long before keikis develop into mature plants, able to produce blooms? I am in no hurry really, but just curious. I have had other keikis that I seperated from Dendrobiums that bloomed after one full growing season. Can I assume a similar pattern or will they take longer if left on the plant? Just curious.... Thanks again!

[cneos]

Thanks Don and JennS for your positive comments!

We got Ascda. Fuchs Flame (Ascda. Laksi x Ascocentrum curvifolium) in 1991, as a bs seedling in a 4" basket. There was one inflorescence - 12 flowers - that lasted about 8 weeks. From 1992 to 1995, it threw keikis like crazy (basally and on the main fan). It was a huge clump (curvifolium influence) of foliage with only an occasional flower. It was growing so vigorously that we slid the 4" basket into an 8" basket.
The next growth spurts were more floriferous. (See photos attached 20010714-002 and 20070901).
We've moved up to a 12" basket and there are now about 36 fans, one inflorescence just flowered and is going by but right behind it are about 2 dozen immature inflorescences that should be spectacular come September.

BTW, we bought our plant from Bob Fuchs, RF Orchids. Bob's Ascda. Fuchs Flame 'Crownfox' with 642 flowers on 38 inflorescences earned him a CCM (87 points) and an AM (82 points) in 2001.

I hope to match or exceed Bob's award some day and so, the keikis stay.

Will look forward to seeing photos of your plant in flower, JennS

[JennS]

Oh my gosh...36 FANS????? I had no idea such a thing could happen! I can't wait...first Vanda Keiki for me! I have been lucky enough to get a few off of Dendrobiums, but never a Vanda...so exciting!!! I can't wait for flowers to post pics. I will have to take some of the babies too to show off

Oh, just noticed a spike starting (yesterday) on my V. Odgen Phipps x V. Coerulea. I have had it a little over a year and this will be the 3rd or 4th time I have gotten it to bloom since i purchased it in bloom! How exciting....keikis and flowers, Oh my!

[cneos]

JennS

Vanda Tharab Blue is the correct name of your hybrid. It is a fairly recent registration (2004) by P. Rodsawad.

coerulea hybrids are delightful, please do post pictures when it flowers.

[JennS]

Thank you for clearning that up for me. I really don't know much about the names of orchids, so I always appreciate learning more about them!