update on my vanda

[msh1]

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/att...1&d=1202748714
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http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/att...1&d=1202748714
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hi all
i thought i would update you on my vanda as you can see from my last posting the flower spike has grown a good inch.
i also thought i would show you my new orchids from left to right they are
odontoglossum anna claire , wilsonara widecombe fair , dendrobium parishii red
mark

[exasperatus2002]

How are you growing that Vanda since it looks like its in a glass jar? I love vandas but dont own any because of the higher humidity levels they need.

[msh1]

hi
yep its in a glass jar no medium i fill the jar with water and when it stops bubbling pour water out i do this twice a week
mark

[arleneg]

Originally Posted by exasperatus2002

How are you growing that Vanda since it looks like its in a glass jar? I love vandas but dont own any because of the higher humidity levels they need.

High humidity isn't necessary, but helps. Lots of watering or frequent soaking is the secret for low humidity environment. In addition to that, thorough misting of the roots help, too.

Oh, don't forget the most important factor - light, anywhere from bright, filtered light all or half day, or a several hours of direct sunlight (depends on leaf type).

[sandra]

Hi msh1. I noticed you have your Dend. parishii red mark in sphag. I'm very curious to know why you chose sphag. over bark for this? I've got a parishii (and superbum) and never considered the sphag. I don't know too much about their care and was told their cultural requirements were similar to hard cane Dends. How is yours doing?

Please post pics when the flowers arrive on your Vanda. I love them but can't have them...not enough light.

[tizzycat]

Hi Mark, I too was a little surprised to notice the sphag. I find the moss retains a little too much moisture for the UK climate. Having said that I'm much further north than you and at the end of the day potting medium is down to personal choice and what works for you/your plants.

Looking forward to some pics of the vanda when it flowers.

[msh1]

hi all
must admit the i only got the dend parrishii the other day its only just been deflasked the guy i bought it from said to keep it in the sphag for 3 months do you think i should put it in orchid bark mix instead i was a bit worried that it would get to damp
mark

[E-Jag]

Sandra, I'm intrigued. I've been thinking about buying a vanda for awhile. My problem is the copious amounts of water they take. It never occurred to me that they wouldn't get enough light in FLORIDA. I know there are 3 "types" of vanda, but the vendors at the shows around here talk about how easy they are to grow so I figured a ccouple 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day and huge amounts of water and I could make it work. Hmmmm. Back to the drawing board. Thanks!

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E-Jag

[sandra]

E-Jag, my growing space is on my patio which faces north/east, sadly. The sun is just now beginning to return to my area and until late September, I'll have a good 5 hours of sunlight and as well, the tail end of some western light. Florida has ideal conditions for Vanda but I've always feared that I wouldn't be able to provide enough light. I learned this the hard way with all my Cattleyas that I bought last year. They're all now (except for a small few) hanging from a huge palm tree in the front of my house...south, east and west exposure, so they're going to be ok but I'd rather be getting orchids that I can keep in one place for now so that's why it wouldn't work for me.

......unless, I've been wrong and the few hours of light on my patio would be enough? Hmmm, just maybe it'll work then..... You go first and let me know how they do, ok?

[E-Jag]

Sandra, I think I may give it a go. I have a south-facing front porch and light is definitely not my problem. There may be, however, a difference in cultural requirements between strap-leaved, semi-terete and terete vanda's. The AOS indicates that terete types need full sun and are best grown in "high-light" climates - we might both be out of luck here. The other 2, though, grow well in warm (got that covered!) bright climates with partial shade. So, I guess the question is - how do you tell the difference? You see so many vanda's in shows, I suppose you just ask.

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E-Jag (Rick)

[tizzycat]

Mark, I'm no expert on Dens. I prefer bark all round, but if you leave it in the sphag can I suggest that you keep a close eye on it and not be tempted to over water it. A skewer, to determine the moisture level, may help.

Hopefully someone with more experience of dens will give you some good advice here.

Skewer use for watering of orchids

[evagentry]

Hi, the vanda in a glass is very interesting, how long have you had it? From the picture it looks healthy, good luck with your spike.

[msh1]

hi i took the dend out of the sphag glad i did far to wet also a couple of shoots growing down the pot so im going to pot it on in bark
the vanda i had for about 6 months i rescued it from local diy store it was in flower a lovely blue noid i will post pics when it flowers maybe someone can id it for me
mark

[chefatplay]

I also have a southern facing exposure for my vandas. I have purchased shepard hooks and have them in full sun in the winter and move the shepard hook under the tree for the summer. The humidity has been excellent this past year. All I do is mist with worm tea twice a week. In the winter, I misted maybe once a month. I can't stop my vandas from blooming.

My vandas are in wire baskets.

[sandra]

Originally Posted by msh1

hi i took the dend out of the sphag glad i did far to wet also a couple of shoots growing down the pot so im going to pot it on in bark

Mark, I was feeling a bit anxious for you when I saw that Dend. in sphag. I am just learning and finding my way with orchid culture but I know it's quite rare to see Dends in sphag. I'm glad you repotted, I'll sleep better tonight....and the pina coladas I had this evening might have something to do with that also.

[sandra]

Originally Posted by chefatplay

I can't stop my vandas from blooming.

Ellen, you are the Vanda Queen. The first thing I'm doing when I relocate is Vanda up! I am seeing them all over now and all I can do is admire, sadly. Don't you agree that you need to post a few pics of them? You need to bring us up to the latest in the life of Ellen....orchid speaking, that is!

[sanja28]

Hello to all! I´m coming from Croatia, vandas are quite rare hare and very expensive so I did´n have enough courage to buy one of them, yet. But I know some people who bought them and thay have never bloom again after buying. What is the most important for reblooming?

[E-Jag]

Chefatplay, you simply mist your vanda's a couple of times a week? You don't hose or soak them daily? What type do you have?

E-jag (Rick)

[jerrymeola]

I am seeing too much advice on this forum begin to parrot other advice in other threads without knowing the reason for the advice.

Here the discussion was whether to pot dens in sphag or bark. That is wrong the question was to pot a recently deflasked orchid in sphag or bark. Species was not the issue the age was.

The grower's answer to leave it in sphag for about 3 months was good advice. Better than you got here. Young seedlings need consistent moisture. Even a day or two without moisture (I did not say without watering) can dry out the roots and dry roots on a seedling will cause its death. The plant is not big enough to grow new roots.

Consistent even moisture around the roots is necessary for seedlings. I am a commercial nursery and I will not deflask orchids. Unless I can dedicate a building to only seedlings and give them consistent even moisture the losses are too great.

[jerrymeola]

Sanja

the most important thing to re-bloom Vanda is high light. Vanda like about 8000 foot candles. Your noon summer sun without shade will only be a little higher than that.

Indoors your light is probably under 1000 foot candles and only 1500-1800 near a bright window,