[deholz]

I've had a vanda about 11 years - starting with a small 2 leaf shoot.

It's been growing very well in a 6" square wood basket and seems quite healthy. In summer, it goes outside under the shade of tree and often grows 2-3 inches (3-4 leaves) during the summer months. Two years ago, it sprouted an offshoot, which is now quite large.

Photo at holzfamily.net/images/orchid/vanda1.jpg

This past summer it came out with a very small shoot down in the wood basket, which is still growing well.

Photo at holzfamily.net/images/orchid/vanda2.jpg

Unfortunately, I have never had any luck getting this darling to bloom. If I remember correctly it should have a reddish flower (according to a long lost tag).

Inside this winter, it gets daily misting (sometimes twice a day) and there's a humidifier in that room. It's a southwest facing window with plenty of light. I feed it regularly from March to October (with waterings) with Better-Gro Orchid Plus water soluble food (20-14-13).

Lately, I've been reading that to get this to bloom, I should be using a fertilizer with a higher phosphate (middle number) level. Any truth to that?

Alternately, any suggestions to get this beauty to perform for me? While I enjoy watching it get bigger, a little colorful gratitude would be nice.