Am new wanting to grow Vanda

[Tarad]

Hello All!

I am from Wisconsin am I totally out of my mind wanting to grow Vanda Orchids?? Thanks! Tara

[chefatplay]

Hi, Tarad! Welcome to the forum. Vandas need a lot of bright indirect sun and humidity. They are not good indoor artificial light plants because artificial light doesn't get bright enough. If they don't receive the bright light, they won't flower.

I live on the east coast of Florida near Palm Beach. My Vandas get the southern bright indirect sun all day in the summer with direct sun in the morning or afternoon depending on what side of the porch they're on. Can you reproduce that in Minnesota?

In the newbie section there is a culture sheet on vandas. Read that and make your decision. I don't blame you for wanting to have some, they are very interesting and the flowers are huge. If you look in the thread " In Labor.." and "Can you see it yet?", you will see two of my vandas in bloom, both different flowers.

[snowballsarebad]

Tara, I'm in Michigan, and I have a vanda. I've had it for a little over a year now. It grows well, especially in the summer when I have it hanging out in a tree. It does like lots of light. My house is quite dark, so in the winter, it started growing a little straggly because my supplementary lights just weren't enough for it. It hasn't bloomed yet, probably because it is still quite young, but I also wonder when it comes to size if I would be able to get it blooming since I don't have higher light levels in winter. Even if it doesn't bloom though, it will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first orchid, and I bought it on a lovely trip to Kauai.
I'd say, if you have some windows that get heaps of light, even in winters, and you can find a plant that is not too expensive, try it. If you grow it for a few years, but can't get it to bloom, you can always sell it or trade it! Or just keep it for the foliage; their fan-like growth is lovely. I definetly wouldn't go and buy a bunch of them though, until you know that you can get them enough light. Oh, and mine also loves heaps of water. It's in a basket, so I have to water it everyday. And be ready to soak it at least once a week in a bucket.

[fred]

Originally Posted by Tarad

Hello All!

I am from Wisconsin am I totally out of my mind wanting to grow Vanda Orchids?? Thanks! Tara

Hi Tara

I think we are all could say that from time to time.

welcome to the forum

I hope you enjoy chatting and sharing with all of us geeks

[brookn]

welcome to the forum!

[Tarad]

Ok I am nuts haha. I bought 6 Vanda and have two so far. They are shipping from FLorida. The locla nursery potted them up in ceramic pots with holes in them. both plants are in spkie will see if I can get them in the right light. I have a n East adn a SOuth window to try that in. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I started on Vanda as there is a local nursery that has this HUGE Vanda standing at the top of thier fountian! It at first reminded meof the little shop of horrors plnat haha. WHat on earth did you feed that Orchid>????? It has a not for sale sign onit it ...DUH. The thing has got to be 4 feet tall adn huge flowers on it. IN WISSONSIN haha. course it is livng out side in a solar plex nursery in a pool Tara

[fred]

Tarad
you will find some useful information in this link

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...uer-notes.html
please keep those questions coming

[chefatplay]

I have found an interesting thing about my vandas and the sun they receive. I have had my species Vanda, a tiny little thing on the east side of my porch where is receives morning sun. It is the only one that gets the "brunt" of it. I have noticed that it is not getting any new growth on the roots and that bothers me. Everything that I read about species anything being so particular, etc... This morning I switched places with my Robert's Delight Paracha Red with my species.

This evening when I came home, all the new root growth on my Robert's Delight was burned off!! Needless to say, I put it in another spot on the west side. Morning sun in FL on vanda roots is not good, at least not in June.

No day is complete until you learn something new. I'm just impressed that I have paid enough attention to see the change. Good girl, (pat on back) Just goes to show, a black thumb CAN turn green with proper coaching. Thanks again, Orchidgeeks!

[jerrymeola]

Tarad

As long as you know the difficulties then I say go for it.

Vanda's want to have their roots exposed so pots will be difficult but can work.

They also want a lot of water. Read the thread on Worm Tea, especially since it was started over a beginner's first orchid (a Vanda) and not knowing how to care for it. Worm Tea - further testing -accerated growth rate

You want to keep the plant roots plump with water without rotting them. Putting them outside in the summer is usually enough to get them to flower. All orchids can live in lower than optimum light. The light level is more important for flowering.

[Ellen]

Vandas can be monsters. I have some in my greenhouse with roots that are over 5 feet long. Personally, I would not grow a vanda indoors in a pot. If you like the look of vandas but don't have the facilities for them, you might like one of the smaller vanadaceous plants like Ascocentrum. These look like small vandas, but are more manageable in the house. Nice species are ampullaceum, miniatum and curvifolium. There are also plenty of compact vanadaceous hybrids out there.

[palito]

I read somewhere that the vandofinetias and other modern vanda hybrids can be grown in phalaenopsis light levels. Anyone has experience with such plants?

[snowballsarebad]

Palito: I've had a Vandofinetia Blaupunkt for a couple months now. I have it outside in a place where it gets a mix of sun and bright shade throughout the day, with most of my other orchids. It has root growth, but I haven't noticed any leaf growth yet. All of my orchids are thriving in this light level, some get a little bit more sun than others. I have a couple phals out there, and they love it. I guess I have yet to see if this one wants more light, only time will tell. Decent looking plant though; its got long, narrow leaves.

[palito]

thanks snowballsarebad. Dont people in korea and japan grow and bloom neofinetia indoors? so i guess a vandofinetia should require just a bit more of light

[chefatplay]

Tarad, since you like Vanda's so much, I wanted to share pictures of my vanda's. It's mid July in SE Florida, super high humidity and rain everyday. I have put my vanda's under my Southern Elm. You can see the sun amount. Even though this is late afternoon, this is a good example of the kind of sun they recieve all day. My Robert's Delight #31 is blooming, my other two already bloomed. Hope you enjoy.

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[Tarad]

Wow Cool!!! Tara

[Tarad]

Sorry Little Paco got carried away on the replies up there haha. Tara