Vanda Leaf stems look like they are crying and they are wilting

[Troubled Orchid]

Hello,

I am having the worst luck with Orchids! I live in Michigan and only window faces east has a minor cool temperature surroundings. Every store bought orchid seems to get wilted, wrinkled leaves. I gave up on buying those and recently purchased a V. Pachara from Florida.

While taking great care to bring it home it seemed to be alright. Now after two weeks of limited sunshine (Michigan) and daily watering at least three times with a mist spray (and orchid food mixture) it seems to be loosing the flowering leafs from the bottom up. Also the flowering leafs are excreting a liquid substance from the base of the stem and flower. I watered it last night before going to bed and today it looks like I may lose the rest of my flower leafs within a week or so. The flowers looks like they are crying. I only spray the green leafs and roots.

Does any one have any suggestions? Am I over watering, too much fertilizer, not enough sun, watering the wrong time of day or night, too cold (65 degrees)... ? or should I give up and buy a dog?

Thank you for your help!!!

[Leafmite]

I grow 2 vandas here in Ohio, a noID that I have had since it was tiny and V. coerulescens. I also grow other orchids that are closely related and need the same care. I could not tell how you have yours potted but I have mine in plastic vanda baskets with large chunks of lava rock. My temps are cooler and light is poor so this helps them dry quickly and prevents their roots from rotting. I don't fertilize much until February as the poorer light seems to slow the growth of the plants that like high light and I don't want the salts to build up in the medium. I have a nice south-facing window, so my vandas are lucky. I would recommend a grow light if you think light and temps might be a little low.
The vanda coerulescens is one that might do well in your conditions. It doesn't seem troubled by lower temps and blooms really well for me even with the lower light. Most vandas like warm temps and high light but there are a few that are adaptable. When buying any orchid or plant, I have learned to research conditions it will need and try to figure out how I can give it those conditions. It is always a learning experience. Good luck!

[Leafmite]

I just notice you mist often. I just water once a day until the roots turn green (careful not to get water on the leaves that might cause fungus or bacteria to grow).

[Bud]

you may want to invest in an electric humidifier that has an oscillating fan, it can also be healthy for your breathing this winter....65F can go even lower at night....Vandas must have at least 80F in the day and 65F at night (a portable electric heater can come in handy at night)....you also can add a lamp for brighter light in the day and put it on an auto timer ....
I see cold spots on leaves meaning droplets of water that reacts with the sunlight gives leaves small dark polka dots, better spray them with physan20 to rule out fungi or bacteria

get dog but dont give up on your Vanda....I have a rottweiler and a white siamese blue eyed cat....the dog is very protective of the plants on my windowsill....but the cat nibbles on a leaf or two if the dog is napping

[Orchids4ever]

You can still get a Dog -- but dont give up on your vanda yet,

[cneos]

when you water, be sure that the roots get thoroughly drenched ... velamen (tissue surrounding the roots) turns green. Most vandas require daily watering but this depends on things like light, temperature, etc. On cloudy days, they need less water. Rule of thumb is to maintain a balance of temperature, humidity and air movement around your plant at all times.
The 'tears' on the flowers may be a sugary secretion that occurs naturally OR may be from tiny insects (aphids, mealy bug) that bore into the flower. Either way, the sugary secretion can attract unwanted pests and bacteria, plus prevent buds from opening. Carefully remove the exudate with warm water and an artist's brush.
A plant that is in flower requires LOTS of energy. If you're losing leaves, cutting off the flower spike let's that energy go to work elsewhere ... example, back into the plant via the roots. The roots should not be withered or dry; they should turn green when watered and you should see nice green tips on them.Check out David Grove's book on vandas or the AOS website for more info.

[Troubled Orchid]

Hello Responders,

Thank you so much for all the tips! The Flowering portion seems to have seen its last days. Hopefully the rest of the plant will make it.

I am going to make all the recommended purchases first thing in the morning. Also through the advise offered by all of you I see many of my mistakes.

What is the best recommended root watering procedure? Should I rap the roots in the tissue? Should I place the roots and plant in a large glass jar as seen in some u-tube videos? It seems to be a nice way to present the plant.

Again thanks for everything!

[cneos]

Best root watering is to drench with a pump sprayer - until the velamen turns green. On sunny, warm days, you should do this two or three times a day, in the morning. Plant should be dry in evening when temp normally decreases.
I would not wrap roots in tissue as this could encourage root rot and may prevent good air circulation around the plant. I grow in a greenhouse but you can duplicate 'ideal' vanda conditions by using a large glass jar. Place some clean pebbles or glass beads in bottom of jar. Put vanda basket at top of jar, allowing the roots to hang naturally into and outside of the jar. Water once daily (on sunny days only) using pump sprayer making sure that roots turn green. Allow water to drain into the jar. As water pools and evaporates from bottom of jar, the jar will have relatively good humidty. Make sure roots are not sitting in water. Also make sure there's good air circulation around the jar. Be careful not to leave the jar in direct sunlight as the glass can act like a lens and possibly burn wet roots and leaves.

[cneos]

PS, if you are fertilizing with every watering, be sure to highly dilute the fertilizer ... and perhaps water weekly weakly instead of every day. Too much fertilizer can cause salt build-up that will damage roots and leaves. Remember balance is the key to good growing.