winter vanda care

[dra]

Any tips on vanda / darwinara (flowered last August) care over the winter will be appreciated. They have both been outside all summer - watered very well / vigourous root growth. Both are in wooden baskets lined with moss and chunks of lava rock as a medium. When I bring them in, they will be in a south window, about a foot away from the glass. The room is fairly bright and gets pretty warm by the afternnon. I would like to make it as easy for them until the spring. Any thoughts. Will continue soaking/watering daily.

[FLBob]

I'm always amazed at the lengths people take to enjoy their orchids. Thinking of bringing the plants in side for months is just mind blowing...

I'd be worrying the most about the initial change from out to in. The initial change may stress the plant. I'd definitely continue to water and feed. Keep the plant well hydrated. My guess is that your house will be dry this winter, and there will be cold radiating off the window at night. So any attempt to mitigate the extreme drafts would be a good thing. I assume you'll have curtains closed on the window at night, and something blocking or diverting the heating vent. Best of luck

[katrina]

Originally Posted by FLBob

I'm always amazed at the lengths people take to enjoy their orchids. Thinking of bringing the plants in side for months is just mind blowing...

Hey Bob - Great to see you again!! For those of us up here where the rain turns white and really cold, and where ice has a tendency to collect on just about everything outside...we have no choice but to bring our 'chids inside. Well...unless we want them to be annuals. LOL!!

I am by no means an expert on Vandas but I do have 2 that I've managed to keep alive for 2 years. I purchased them as seedlings and they are growing....sloooooooowly growing... but they're growing. I have mine in baskets w/coco fiber... I water them every day and I have them in a spot under the lights that's as bright as I can manage ...almost touching the lights.

[digitalgate]

this plant can handle some form to cold spell (not not too cold above 55). Withheld watering and fertilize with 67 fertilizer to encourage flowering.(or keep the media on the dry side). may be water once a week? Keep the light level a little low as well that force it bloom also. you have to take my advice with a pitch of salt as it might not work for you . Does the media dry out after a few hours?

[elitebettas]

Last year I brought all one hundred inside and I HATED it. For me the biggest thing was keeping sufficient air movement and humidity. In the next few months I'll be culling down the collection in hopes of having a manageable winter period indoors.

[dra]

digitalgate,

so far the medium does not dry out. I soak the plants thoroughly. Inside each wooden basket are lava rock. The basket is line with moss. The wooden basket and volvcanic rock doesn't seem to dry out. Room temp is about 75 degrees farenheit. Sometimes more whe the heat really cranks, will the mistiing/dunking work all winter?

[digitalgate]

I would give it a "winter" rest.(you get flowering anyway) Less water and less light . High heat = high water need. But you did not provide enough light for the winter. So might as well let it bloom. Let the growing to be done in the summer.

[dra]

then the goal is to maintain its health until the spring.

[LauraGR]

I am in Minnesota, where it gets a bit cool in winter! I visited Winsome Orchids in January last year. They had a huge greenhouse - sadly, it burned down in April but they are rebuilding. Anyway, they had a lot of Vandas, right up against the sides of the greenhouse, which was heavy corrugated (Wavy? I don't know what it's called) plastic. When I was there, frost had been forming on the greenhouse sides both in- and out-side, and the Vandas in some places were touching the frost, but most were blooming their heads off. It appears the moisture and air circulation by huge fans trumped the frost in keeping those Vandas happy.

[digitalgate]

sound like poly carbonate to me. I remember seeing that. It is really a awesome sight! growing vanda in Minnesota. Of all the places...