vanda watering

[rschuler]

I just bought a vanda orchid and it is simply in a cedar box with roots hanging and exposed. the instructions say water often. water what? spray the roots, dip roots in a pool? I don't get it!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

If you are growing indoors, I would get that thing potted up. Those baskets are for high humidity with daily heavy drenching. I generally work the roots loose, then remove the basket piece meal with a very large wire cutter cutting thru the wood, a nibble at a time, being careful not to damage the roots. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[Lucinda Brown]

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that you can purchase a cheap plastic dishpan, instead of potting. Soak the vanda in the tub, basket too, be careful to set it in gently and not damage roots. I put a mix of water and Peter's 20-20-20 mix, or sometimes bloom booster food, 11-35-15 and water in the tub. I use a cup to pour some over the roots that stick up out of the mix to make sure they all get a good soaking. I have 6 vandas now and they've all done well this way. I usually let them soak at least an hour while I water or refill humidity trays for my other orchids. Hope this helps LUCINDA P.S. Hope you have a humidifier for them if you're growing indoors.

[rockets_vandas]

i have 2 vandas one lou sneary and one regular accenda both in baskets. do you recommed that i use the same methed of dunking them everyday in central fla., because i have started using it but didn't know how much to soak

[captripppp]

Rockets Vanda, if you live in Central Fl you should grow your vandas outside, and water them everyday. You really should only soak them when you feed them, and when you soak them you can do it for up to an hour. (that is ussually what I do with my vandas, and I live in SW Fl) Aaron