How do I repot this? (Vanda)

[Forever-mango]

I received this today from a friend, its about 50cm tall and very long roots. It came bare rooted, been trying to figure out for 3 hrs now...how on earth am I going to pot this guy up? Apparently its "Vanda Kagawara Christie Low"

Here is a pic of it



I was told to hang it without pot and water everyday.

Im new to vandas, can anyone help me out please?

Regards
Mango

[dtje2000]

Mango, gotta tell ya, I stared at vandas for about 2 years as they hung from pipes in Home Depot thinking "Who in the heck is going to buy that plant? All of the dirt is gone from it and it will SURELY die!" Took me a while to learn that the plant is perfectly happy in that state.

Based on what you stated, you already have the basic culture down. I've seen them hanging simply from a wire, but usually I see them sort of resting in a plastic or wood-slatted basket. The watering every day part is also true, and my understanding is they should be fertilized as well. Thrips are likely, and will eat up your newly forming buds, so you'll want to be vigilant watching for those little things.

I'm trying to remember who grows vandas so well... was it benetay? Hmmm... In any case, more folks will chime in with great advice!

[englandfx]

Vandas can be grown without medium.
And yes, it is more work to water them daily if they are grown without medium

[rcb]

Mango - I think willowbanks grows a lot of these beautifully - and I think he is in Australia. (Hope I'm correct about this) If he doesn't post here - maybe send him a pm?

Personally, I grow them in an open basket, with a little lava rock to help with the watering. I came from a place with not so great humidity most of the year, and the lava rock helped me with only having to water once a day. Plus mine are seedlings, so they need a little more help than the full grown ones.

[Forever-mango]

Thanks guys

I just temporary hang it with some wires for the time being. I was thinking planting it in an open basket with lava rocks to weight it down. Should i give in fun sun? I have it under a tree with 80% sun in the morning and 20% shade in the afternoon. In terms of ferts and watering, do i water from the top leaves down?

[dtje2000]

Your light sounds about right to me...and I'll defer on the method of watering, as I am the Queen of Crown Rot.

[cyngreen]

I've had some luck with placing them in wood slatted basket and anchoring them with large chunks of lava rocks or if you don't have those, I have used broken up sandstone from an old foundation we removed a few years ago. A Kagawara I purchased at an aution in August that had been planted in potting soil and repotted in this was has several new root tips and has shot out new leaves. Must be working.

[LouisW]

I find that unless you have very high humidity, watering them once a day can dehydrate, and kill them very quickly. They need a lot of water and I imagine you need about 70-80% Rm, before you can get away with watering them every day bare root. To solve this problem I put the one i dare keep, in a wooden basket with medium (LECA) and still water it every day(up to four times a day if I can. What I personally would do with yours is soak it for a few hours until the roots are a little pliable then gently twist them into a wooden basket and fill the gaps carefully with media.

Sun situation sounds good to me, hope that is a bit of help.

[E-Jag]

Louis, how do you keep leca in the basket? I'm having that problem now and am temporarily using a coffee filter but I expect it to tear up/rot soon. I think netting would be perfect if I could find some. Have you had this problem? TIA.

[FLBob]

I grow mine in dappled shade to near full sun. I water every day, the leaves and the roots,
I continue applying water until the roots are dark green. I may water each plant numerous times. Think tropical rain shower.
I feed almost every day. Vandas enjoy being well fed.
To hang my vandas I've taken to attaching them to long s hooks using cable ties.
Depending on the variety,once mature enough to bloom many will rebloom frequently. I have a V. Mimi Palmer Tessellata that blooms 9 months out of the year. So if they are growing well they are well worth their gangly nature.

[orchidlover55]

Mango, dtje2000 is right they hang on nothing LOL I have mine three hanging inside a wooden basket without any medium. I water them good in the morning and then I mist them about three times a day. I fertilize them once a week, weakly weekly. They were outside with about the same amount of light as you expressed you have. I had to bring mine in last week though and put them under artificial light in a west window. Good Luck

[tansyflower]

I find growing vandas with no medium very hard work.

I have one (that must be an extremely hardy type- it has the round leaves) happily attached to a tree.

However the others seem to need more moisture. I usually only water once (maybe twice) a week, and they do ok when they are in media. One is in a teensy little basket, however I draped a bit of sphag around it. The others are in big chunky bark in bigger pots.

Lots of sun, occasionally fed (they probably would like more feeding).

[digitalgate]

i would put into a pot with only drainage hole at the lower side of the pot. Tie a stick with the vanda and put together and anchor it with broken brick. Put enough brick till the plant dont move too much and wobble. then put it near full sun light condition for the time being. This plant should be able to handle full sunlight. By the way it should be spelled as Kagawaara Christie Low

[cyngreen]

I agree, they need something to help retain some moisture. I also often place a handful of spagnum around the roots before placing the rocks. I usually only water once a week(twice or more during the summer) and I am lucky enough to have about half of my vandas in bloom most of the time. I was so excited when my first purple Vanda started sending out 2 spikes at a time. I don't do full sun. They have to adjust to a bright but shaded light. I like the leaf color better when they are somewhat shaded. They still bloom well.

[Forever-mango]

Thanks guys, im just wondering...the roots are long with many side roots (so not all straight)...how do i place it in a pot?

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by Forever-mango

Thanks guys, im just wondering...the roots are long with many side roots (so not all straight)...how do i place it in a pot?

be cruel to the plant, twist the root until it fit the pot. (soak the plant very very well before you do that).

[Anton]

Coconut fibre in a basket is what I have done, and as Digitalgate said, water the roots first to soften them and wind them around the inside of the basket with part of them hanging out.

I don't use any other medium, and the fibre holds them in place.

Water by misting twice a day, bright sun and they love lots of fertilizer too.

Listen to what everyone has said, then work out what will work for you.

[Forever-mango]

I decided to try a little experiment out for planting the Vanda. Similar to the terracotta pots with holes on the sides, but with a plastic pot. I drilled heaps of holes on the bottom and the sides to allow ventilation and a few bigger holes to thread the roots through. I then added a heap of lava rocks to support the plant. The plant looks very steady now, just need to find a hanger for the pot tomorrow.

Thanks for the info and idea
Very much appreciated!
Mango

[maria1971]

I live in Miami and water once a day--for about 10-15 minutes or as much as I can. I've seen vandas grown in pots with lava rock or LECA.....good luck!!!