What to do with my Vanda.

[FLaCo]

This Vanda has not bloomed since I purchased it. Although, it has grown thick, beautiful root and leaves. Recently though, it started growing these keikeies.

The rest of the mature plant doesn't seem to drying out at the bottom like most old Vanda do. Are these keikeies removable?

Edit: Name of the plant is V. Arabella Cummings

[lmartiny]

That is kind of cool looking. The plant looks very healthy. I bought one a few months ago with keiki's at the base. I don't know it they can be safely removed but someone will.

[articuno75]

Oooo I just seen a pic of this on Google and it's PURDY !!! Do you give this fertilizer? I'm wondering if you gave it too much nitro in the mix and it spit out a keiki instead of a spike. Something similar to what a Den would do. I'm sure you can remove the keiki and it won't hurt it.

[FLaCo]

Well, I fetilize with 20-20-20 once a week, but that is only during this time of year and summer. When fall arrives I barely fertilize. Its half laziness and half hope that it will bloom.

[LouisW]

Dens Keiki when you give them too much water in the winter rest period but a Vanda doesnt need a rest( as far as i know). maybe it has something to do with your temps.

Im sure you can remove the "keikis" but i would think of them more as "branches" and leave them on. you will get a huge specimen plant and when you finaly get this big guy to bloom it will probably have three or four spikes.

[digitalgate]

light too light little. luckily high enough for it to survive these months not enough to flower. You might want to a brighter area. Spray the roots with Calcium nitrate (i dont know how going to get this) to encourage rooting. Then spray flowering fertilizer during summer months (weak and biweekly) withheld watering for 1 to 2 weeks during summer months in sept and hope for flowers to appear. SO
we are talking about a 6 months schedule.

[FLaCo]

I will admit that my backyard doesn't receive much light during the winter months. With that said, every mature Ascda and Vanda has spiked and bloomed. This one I guess is just waiting this season out. Maybe next year. I won't be removing the keikeies...I was just curious.

[NancyG]

I have a vanda that hasn't bloomed either. Looks good like yours. It is mounted on a palm tree and I cut stuff around it to give it more light but so far nothing. I must have a thrip problem too. The vandas and the smaller ascda all bloomed earlier and then they have been sending up buds only to dry out. I have started spraying for this.

One of them has sprouted a growth like yours. I'm going to wait also and see what happens next year.

[digitalgate]

hmm, you might not see flower for a while. The keiki is using most of the energy from the mother plant. Then again i have mother plant that bloom with keiki at the bottom. But i am greedy about the two keiki , since it has it own root already . I would cut the keiki out to get three plant out of one. Be very careful when cutting the keiki out. Dont cut into the main stem of the mother plant, i hope this might channel some energy back to the main stem to bloom in coming fall. You also need to increase the light level so that the plant do not divert energy into growing new Keiki again.

[FLaCo]

I don't mind if it doesn't bloom for another 2 years really. As long as I have a healthy plant that is fine by me.

[rodcuda]

It apprears to be very healthy, try and give it more light, leave the keikis on and they will grow much quicker than if you seperate them. When it does bloom you should a have a great display.

[CulpableCaptive]

Originally Posted by FLaCo

This Vanda has not bloomed since I purchased it. Although, it has grown thick, beautiful root and leaves. Recently though, it started growing these keikeies.

The rest of the mature plant doesn't seem to drying out at the bottom like most old Vanda do. Are these keikeies removable?

Edit: Name of the plant is V. Arabella Cummings

FLaCo –
Whenever I become interested in a subject I start a file on specific sub-topics related to that which has roused my attention.
I have a file (with photos) on what different orchids might look like if they are having all their needs met except light.
Your orchid is a classic example of a Vanda which is not receiving adequate light but is in the best of health otherwise. The recommendation given is to slowly increase the light over the course of a month to as high as 4000 footcandles (nothing more specific is mentioned). I guess it would depend on how much lighting it is getting now.

The kiekis are also addressed.
They can be left on the mother plant and you are on your way to creating a specimen subject OR
they can be removed and potted up separately BUT it states an important recommendation which should not be overlooked:
Right now the kiekis are getting almost all of their nourishment from the mother plant – and it is common practice for the growers who specialize in Vanda to NOT remove a kieki until it has spiked AND flowered at LEAST ONCE while still attached to the mother plant.
By then the kieki should be sufficiently large and carrying enough roots to do very well on its own.

I do not grow Vanda orchids so I am just relating information I have.
This is not information I have acquired through experience.

___________________________________

“It is pleasant at times to play the madman.” – Seneca (5 BC – 65 AD)

[FLaCo]

Captive, thank you for that info. Very nice of you to type all of that out. I appreciate it.

Now with spring and summer my back yard will not have a spot of shade so I will have to work around it in order not to overexpose my Vandas to light.

I agree with reasoning of having too little light but, I cannot figure out why the other Ascda bloomed under the same light conditions.