orchid question. please help out

[Flaorchid]

i bought an orchid from lowes about 7 months ago. it was packaged in a plastic bag. anyways, i've attached a photo of it, it is a vanda type and it has been hanging in my backyard. all of the aerial roots have always been dead and brown, just recently i cut them all of. in the time that i've had it, two thick nubs are the only new growth. can anyone tell me if this thing is even alive. arent vandas supposed to have substantial roots?

[ogus]

it looks alive to me with the new two new roots. Get a wooden / plastic hanging basket, stablize the plant with bit of moss or couple of large wood chips and hang it where you get lots of ventilations of humid air, and spray it religiously daily until the new roots lengthen and get new roots. That's how I saved some of my vanda.

[palito]

it is alive, but it will take a long time to recover and grow a new root system. 7 months with no growth means the plant isn't happy. Are you keeping it humid enough?

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum, Flaorchid.

I think it is very much alive though 'unhappy'.

As others have suggested it seems like a lack of moisture is the problem. I am not sure if others would agree but you could loosely pack the orchid in large coconut husk or bark in a basket (allowing maximum aeration) and have a plastic drain saucer underneath it with water.

I used a 50cts. plastic drain-saucer and paper clips

It will give it a boost for moisture.

Good luck.

[chefatplay]

Flaorchid, it looks like the two roots are working. Earlier this spring when on the east coast, where I am, had rain every day and high humidity, my vandas took off like crazy. Try soaking it every day until the tiny bubbles stop coming up. Be sure to use water not softened or chlorinated. Also mist them every day. I haven't needed to use shagnum moss or chips of any sort on mine, just a plain basket. Now that mine are so well along, I can water them every other day and they are happy.

Try to keep this little thing out of all day direct sun. It looks nice and green, the crown leaf looks good. There's still hope.