Shrivelled roots on a V. sansai blue?

[nenella]

Originally Posted by David1985

I'm back!

I'm happy to report that my vanda's roots are doing quite nicely. I've cut off a bit more dead growth and I have no fewer than eight new roots starting!

I am, however, worried about how much water it's been getting. I moved recently, and my apartment is noticeably drier than my parents' house. The leaves are getting a bit of a wrinkle to them and the edges are a light beige when looking at them in profile (only on the edges though; the leaves themselves are still a light green). Should I be watering more often?

I currently soak it once or twice a week and spray once or twice daily with a highly diluted fertilizer solution (1/8 teaspoon of 12-2-14-6CA-3MG per four gallons of water). I've been using distilled, but the tap water in my area is supposed to be very good so I may switch to that. No water softener is needed, that I know of. It's sitting in a vase on a gravel tray filled with water with two other large orchids and three smaller ones nearby.

I would soak it more often than just once or twice a week. I have a minature (ascocenda minatum) & I soak mine everyday for about 30 mins. It is flowering at the moment.

[Pilot]

David how is your Vanda doing these days? Any luck with getting it well hydrated?

[David1985]

The leaves are still a bit wrinkled. I need to give it more regular soakings, I think.

[David1985]

Well, I've been giving twice-daily waterings but the leaves are still showing a bit of wrinkling. Some are also dried brown on the edges and have slits in the middle. I think it's doing well, though; one root is almost six inches long and a couple more are starting to get up there!

There is one worry, though; about an inch from the end of the stem, the plant bends almost completely horizontal. New leaves are coming in almost upside-down; is there a way to straighten this out? I've started shining a fluorescent desk lamp at it to make sure it gets enough light (it's in a northwest window).

[JennS]

I am not aware of any way to straighten out the leaves. I have some vandas that have done that too. It is strange and not that attractive, but the leaves are so stiff any attempt to adjust this, even when they are very immature still causes damage, so I have just left them and hope for the best. (I seem to take that approach with many things though, lol).

I agree that regular soakings are needed. I water daily with a hose that has a watering wand attached it it. I though all my vandas were happy and doing great until I took one is for AOS judging and one of them commented they thought it needed more watering due to the flower count and few roots. One root had been cut off at my old house by the yard maintenance crew (I was not happy!), however, I started watering more just to see if he was right.

If you have time to put water inside the vase every morning while you get ready for work or at night before bed (morning or day is better of course) then leave it in there while you get ready, and dump it out before you leave, your vanda will probably be a much happier vanda. This may not always be possible, we all have bad mornings, etc. If you forget it occasionally and leave it in the water all day while you work, that really isn't a problem either as long as it is not every day. In nature these plants encounter monsoon-like seasons where it rains for hours on end. Or at least, in my backyard (not sure of your vandas exact origins) they do and there are no adverse effects. Sometimes this even happens in the middle of the night, all night. They most important thing is that the roots are able to dry out and return to their silvery stage.

[nenella]

I agree with JennS and would add

Originally Posted by JennS

.....

If you have time to put water inside the vase every morning while you get ready for work or at night before bed (morning or day is better of course) then leave it in there while you get ready, and dump it out before you leave, your vanda will probably be a much happier vanda.

I do this too I have one in a large vase & I have a plastic tub of roughly the same hight into which I put the vanda in everyday from 15-30 mins. I have on occasion forgotten it too and as Jenn says..no problem- I tend to not dunk the orchid the next day.

Another suggestion (although sounds like your plant is doing very well without) Is to soak the roots and end of plant with a rooting hormone (eg: KLN) You'll get even more root growth and new leaves usually follow. Your leaves may plump up with soaking everyday but will not become 'sans wrinkles' and totally smooth.
Keep up the good work & please do keep on keeping us posted.
here is my set up - vase and plant & soaking tub -hope this helps

[David1985]

Thanks for your help!

Lately I've been watering twice a day for about twenty minutes--a dunking in the morning and afternoon and sometimes a spray on the roots to get the water flow going before I soak. It's been picking up nicely, despite the bend in the stem. Hopefully it won't make the next flower stalk droop!

[David1985]

I've been a bad vanda owner. I haven't been soaking nearly as much as I should be, though I've been spraying two or three times when I haven't been. I'm working on it--and on fertilizing weekly (12-2-14-6CA-3MG).

I was at the Cambridge Orchid Show last weekend and a vendor suggested using a twist-tie to gently guide the bend to straightness. I'm not keeping my hopes up, but it would be nice to get it de-kinked.

I should really get a bottle of KLN; couldn't find one for sale at the show, but the RBG Orchid Show should yield results. I'd buy online, but then I wouldn't have an excuse to go to orchid shows

[stefpix]

I bought a bag of lava rock and repotted my Vanda pakchong blue in a clay pot with large chunks of lava rock pebble/ lime sized... seems ok - has not flowered yet. I think the roots adjust to different environments to some degree. For bare root I would need a greenhouse

[bellini girl]

Originally Posted by stefpix

I bought a bag of lava rock and repotted my Vanda pakchong blue in a clay pot with large chunks of lava rock pebble/ lime sized... seems ok - has not flowered yet. I think the roots adjust to different environments to some degree. For bare root I would need a greenhouse

I grow a few Vandas, Neostylis in lava rock as well and have had good success. Two Vandas blooming now and 2 spikes on the neostylis lou sneary. This works for me