Winter spraying Vandas.

[LadyV]

Here in the UK we are having more than our fair share of snow and icy conditions, especially my home county, Cambridgeshire. Not having a greenhouse, all my orchids are scattered around my house and conservatory. My biggest problem was how to spray my three vandas during the winter. During the spring and summer months I take them outdoors, hang them on a clothes line and spray them one at a time. I then leave them to drip-dry. However, spraying in the winter is a whole new ball game! I could either spray the vandas over the bath, hanging them up on a shower curtain rail to drip-dry, or spray them in the conservatory, cleaning up all the water afterwards. After some thought, I decided to use black plastic garbage sacks. All I do now, spraying each vanda in turn, is put the vanda roots into a bag and spray away, concentrating on making sure the roots in perticular are well watered. After spraying. I hang the vandas up in my warm air heated conservatory to dry.
So far, my vandas are looking very healthy all three with new growth. No new flower spikes so far. It has been suggested that I grow my vandas in large glass jars. However, I ruled that out as all three plants have too many long and thick roots which I would not wish to thin out. I would be very interested to know how other Orchid Geeks with vandas have solved the winter spraying problem.

[jerrymeola]

I doubt that you will find a better method than you are doing.

An alternative is to dip the roots into a large tub and let drip into the tub when done. This does not do anything more for your orchids than you are currently getting.

I think you will find the majority of persons living in colder weather do not have the patience to water Vanda all winter. I know that when I describe the requirements to a potential customer most decide not to buy one.

Vanda like more sun and longer days then you get in England this time of year so I do not find it unusual for no flowers during the winter.

[digitalgate]

not to mention 200L of water in water bath and plenty of money in watering 3 plant.

[NancyG]

My brother who lives in Wi buys them potted and he is having good luck with them under lights.

[LauraGR]

I have 3 of my Vandas in large glass jars - one has roots that are about 3-4 feet long and I just have them wound around. I spray into the jars every morning, and every weekend I fill them up with water for an hour or so. It seems to be keeping them alive, anyway, and I noticed new growth on one this morning. I also have 2 hanging in baskets with nothing around the roots, and I spray them daily and soak them every weekend as well. Their roots are a lot shorter - the idea about the jars came from seeing one on the web, and it is a space-saver for me - in a 7x10 sun porch, there's not much hanging room!

[lmartiny]

I am not familiar with Vandas in glass jars. I have been putting my big Vanda in the shower and tub.

[LadyV]

My thanks to all who have spared time to reply. I have been told by a florist that, as Vanda flower all year round, their sprays are favourites for wedding bouquets, at least here in the UK. Blue being the most requested colour. One of my Vanda (Blue Magic) was still in flower early November, they certainly are beautiful flowers and rather unusual.

V.