Seeking Vanda advice

[Josh]

Hello everyone. Yesterday I purchased my first Vanda and I am attaching its photo in this thread.

Can I keep it hanging on a big East facing window? I read it needs a lot of light and there might be best, but that will put her under direct sun during the morning. Since it is facing East and only has direct sun during the morning, will that be ok?

Another question is concerning watering. Should it be misted daily in mornings? Some articles mention filling a vase with water and putting the Vanda submerged in that water for a few minutes. Is that good practice or misting it daily would be a better watering technique?

Also, I'm wondering about feeding. Can it be fed using orchid fertilizer in the water when misting the roots?

And one last question, the lower leafs near the roots are loosing vigor and I read that they usually fall. Can I just remove those leaves that will soon die?

Sorry for all the questions! Thanks in advance for all the advice and information. I have read several care sheets for the Vanda and will continue to look for more information, but there is nothing like coming here and hearing from people who had experience with the genus and love their orchids.

[Dendian]

I don't have a whole lot of experience with Vandas (I have only had them for about 6 months), but I do have mine in my East facing window - and I just noticed a spike so I must be doing something right.

I water mine daily - not just misting. It has to get enough water that the roots turn green. If you can't do any more than mist in that location - remove the plant to outside and give it a good soaking with the hose. I have heard directions are to douse it from the hose until there are droplets on the roots, then go back when the droplets are gone and douse it again. It looks like it is in a shower for the picture - you can put it in there and shower it, that would work. If you can't do that - then you can put it in a bucket to allow it to soak up water for a bit - at least until the roots turn green - then hang it back up again.

You can fertilize after you water it - same as other orchids. You can use the mister for that - just cover the plant and the roots with the fertilizer water.

Yes, the lower leaves will eventually fall off - do not cut them as the plant will take all it wants from those leaves before they turn yellow and fall off. If you cut them off you will be taking away nutrients from the plant.

If you haven't already, check out this thread - very informative: Vanda Culture Notes

[rcb]

Agree with Dian, especially about the misting vs. watering. As for how often to water, it will depend on your conditions, typically in the summer, hanging Vandas do get watered everyday, as long as the conditions are right for the roots to completely dry out. In general, Vandas like to have their roots completely dry before watering again.

In winter, I tend to water mine every other or every third day if it is not sunny.

Also want to add, different Vandas have different light requirements. I would say try your East facing windows, and see how it does. If it needs more light, the plant will let you know.

[Josh]

So I should take it to the tub and let water flow through the roots abundantly? That can be done with no problem. How often?

And concerning feeding, could I just put water with orchid fertilizer on a recipient and allow the Vanda to sit on it for 5 minutes? Would that be appropriate? More or less than 5 minutes?

Thanks!

[rcb]

Originally Posted by Josh

So I should take it to the tub and let water flow through the roots abundantly? That can be done with no problem. How often?

That's how I water my warm growing Vandas in the winter when I can't leave them outside. I put them under the shower, then hang them on the shower curtain until they drip a little. Wait about 10 - 15 min, do it again. You want to make sure you totally saturate the roots. You can tell when the roots are a nice even green.

As to how often, I hesitate to ever tell anyone a set calender schedule, as I don't know your conditions. Do it once in a morning, and the next morning see if the roots are dry and hard again. If so, then water them. If they are still a little pliable or greenish, wait another day.

Watering frequency depends on so many different factors, temperature, air movement, humidity, media, growth stage of the plant, light strength and I'm sure other factors as well, so it's about impossible for anyone else to give an exact timing for watering. Therefore, your watering frequency will also change throughout the year. IMHO, it's always best to water a plant when it needs it, not when we want to.

[Josh]

Very valuable advice. Thanks guys.

I also noticed that some roots are strong and thick, while a few, particularly in the center, are very think and all wavy. Are these dead roots or are they still used by the plant? Should I allow all roots to remain or should any of those roots be removed?

[Reg22]

If the roots turn from white to green when you water it, they are good roots.

[Josh]

So if the roots don't change color I can remove them?

[digitalgate]

if the root don't turn green when you water them. It is most likey to be a dead root , you can go ahead and cut it.

I put my 7 yr old vanda near the bathroom window hanging on a hook of the ceiling. When I take a shower (every morning) it gets lots of hot steam ...humidity level in summer is high so I just dont water it. It flowers twice a year. I fertilize(I am using worm tea at the moment) it after flower drops off and new leaves grow. I soak it in a basin of water with fertilizer every other week while growing. My other vanda that is hanging center of my kitchen window by the sink; gets sprayed with water soaking wet everymorning in summer and once a week in winter(the heaters in my New York apartment emits hot steam to humidify the dry winter frosty air). That is what works for me. I suggest you find a regimen that will work for you in your environment. All my vandas are in a redwood basket with no medium, hanging in the air just like yours with roots free and loose.

[orchids4me]

Thanks for posting your question, good information here

[Josh]

Thanks for all the replies. It's great to learn with you all.

[pikkumyy]

Originally Posted by Josh

Hello everyone. Yesterday I purchased my first Vanda and I am attaching its photo in this thread.

what kind may i ask, and how much?

Originally Posted by Josh

Can I keep it hanging on a big East facing window? I read it needs a lot of light and there might be best, but that will put her under direct sun during the morning. Since it is facing East and only has direct sun during the morning, will that be ok?

mine are in a shadehouse so i can't really help you on that, but they do like their light, but dont let them burn

Originally Posted by Josh

Another question is concerning watering. Should it be misted daily in mornings? Some articles mention filling a vase with water and putting the Vanda submerged in that water for a few minutes. Is that good practice or misting it daily would be a better watering technique?

if your misting them, make sure it is a proper mist, make sure the roots get nice and wet, i use a hose on mine, but maybe you could hold it in the shower for a few seconds and get it nice and soaked, then hang it there until it has stopped dripping (so that it doesnt drip all through your house)
oh and i water mine every 2 days at the moment, but it will be daily in summer.

Originally Posted by Josh

Also, I'm wondering about feeding. Can it be fed using orchid fertilizer in the water when misting the roots?

Thats what i did with mine when it was inside with its awesome blooms. but as i said before make sure it gets plenty of water and so fertilizer, when you mist it

Originally Posted by Josh

And one last question, the lower leafs near the roots are loosing vigor and I read that they usually fall. Can I just remove those leaves that will soon die?

i would leave them their because i figure a plant does a better job of sealing off a wound itself, when it is ready, then when we do it all of a sudden. also the leaves seem to stay there for a while, so unless it is going to a show, i would leave them

Originally Posted by Josh

Sorry for all the questions! Thanks in advance for all the advice and information. I have read several care sheets for the Vanda and will continue to look for more information, but there is nothing like coming here and hearing from people who had experience with the genus and love their orchids.

there is no such thing as too many questions, and you are welcome, dont take my info as being perfect because it may not be for you, all i know is that it works for me and my conditions.


oh and im not sure if ive already said this somewhere else, but welcome to the forum and i hope you continue to enjoy your orchids and leanr more about them, (knowledge is bad because with the more confidence you get, the more orchids you'll want.)

[Josh]

Thanks!

Just another doubt, when watering the plant in the shower, should I water just the roots or the whole leafs as well? Is there a danger of crown rot as in the Phals?

[rcb]

Yes Vandas can get crown rot, pretty much any of the monopodials can, although some seem more sensitive to it.

So, just tip the plant upside down after watering, drain the water out of the leaf axils, and if you have good air circulation, the water should dry out.