Vanda feeding question?

[larryt]

Greetings All,

Since I just started growing vandas I have a question about feeding.

I read that vandas are heavy feeders, how would this relate to the "weakly weekly" rule of thumb?

I hope all you vanda growers will share your thoughts and or secrets.

Cheers,
Larry

[brianb]

Larry,

I feed my Vandas every 3 days using one teaspoon per gallon of 21-21-21 and every fourth feed I use a fertilizer with low Nitrogen & high phosphorus. Every four weeks I add 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salts per gallon. In the winter you will need to cut back. Please remember light, temperature, air circulation and humidity are equally important. I water once per day, twice if very hot not at all if we have had a good spell of rain.

Suggest you Google Robert F Fuchs for Vanda culture, he is probably the most outstanding Vanda grower in the USA . He last week won a gold medal for his Vanda Martina Rivera at the World Orchid Conference here in Singapore.

Good luck

[NievesOrchids]

I have a question about feeding and indoor care. I was reading in my two books about how vandas are not good house plant since a lot of them are big. Well I have mine on my hibiscus grow rack hanging. I do not stimulate winter conditions meaning I do not cut my photo period at all. I run my lights between 12 to 16 hrs daily. My room is the warmest in my apt and it gets humid in her as well. My question is should I feed them if like it is spring/summer ? I also see that my book never mentions southern California for growing vandas. Mine are inside so not sure if it makes a difference but I plan to move to a house but I will build a green house for them.

[Vanda lover]

I feed mine 1/4 tsp. per gallon year round. They do fine with this. My Pakchong blue had 4 spikes this year

[vanda_obsession]

During the summer I feed mine Jacks Classic 20-20-20 fertilizer weakly weekly, and once a month I use the Bloom Booster 10-30-20. During the winter I cut back by using more regular water, and I fertilize once a week weakly, and they are fine. I have been growing mine by what my grower recommends.

[otis 226]

All sounds like good advice to me. I think it all depends on how much light and heat they are getting. The more of that, the more food they can use. I feed mine 1/4 strength Gro-More weekly when in active growth and they seem to be doing well.
Tony

[jerrymeola]

The 'weakly weekly' orchid fertilizer system is not appropriate for Vanda. They can use much more.

There was an article in the American Orchid Society Journal about Robert Palmer titled 'The Best Orchid Grower I Know' that stated he feed his Vanda every day. Robert told me that was a mis-quote and he only feed every other watering and occasionally skipped watering. So about 3 times a week.

I do not have the ability to auto-fertilize and when I told him I can only fertilize once a week, he said that is not enough. On an annual basis if I get 4-6 new leaves on a Vanda, Robert will get 2 more than me on the same plants. Since he grows about 50-100,000 Vanda a year, that is a good size test group.

I have increased my fertilizer to a tablespoon per gallon for about the last 6 months with no noticeable problems. I am not recommending that for hobbyist but say it for general information.

I would say do not use bloom boost fertilizers. There is no proof that high phosphorus does anything for flowers. There is scientific evidence that it kills beneficial microbes. It is illegal to use in Florida during the summer, which is the best growing season. phosphorous is what is killing the everglades and this law is good (except they exempt sugarcane and golf courses).

All commercial growers I know have switched to low phosphorous fertilizers year round. I use 17-3-17 powder and 12-2-14 slow release. Balanced fertilizer 20-20-20 or 13-13-13 sloe release are not bad we used it for many years. Until recently they were all that were available.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

All commercial growers I know have switched to low phosphorous fertilizers year round. I use 17-3-17 powder and 12-2-14 slow release. Balanced fertilizer 20-20-20 or 13-13-13 sloe release are not bad we used it for many years. Until recently they were all that were available.

Huh?! I thought you only used worm tea. Are you now using fert as well? If so, why the change?

[jayfar]

What about Vandas where the root system is spread too wide to fit into a bucket? Is a heavy misting of the roots with fertilizer solution sufficient? I've been watering mine by hanging in the shower once or twice daily and then misting the roots with fertilizer about once a week, while they're still wet in the shower. I've only had Vandas for the past couple months, so I can tell whether that method will work out well or not.

[vanda_obsession]

I hated that I used the term 'weakly/weekly' when that is not the case (I used that term so loosely..) , mine are weakly fed every day of the week, minus a day here or there when I am short on time and cannot mix up a batch. I am going by what my grower says as they are very successful in their vanda business. However in the winter I do cut back some, so rather than everyday, it's every few days they get a fertilizer solution sprayed onto them. Goodwin Orchids from Thailand: From Ascocenda Orchids to Vanda Orchids I trust them and they have not led me wrong with any of my plants I have bought from them. They have a greenhouse slammed full of happy luscious vandas. They recommended me a plan for mine and that is what I have stuck to for the last 7 years now.

Jayfar, the best thing for them is getting a pump sprayer. They are relatively inexpensive and are sold in most garden centers. I noticed a big difference when I started using a pump sprayer than using a shower head (we live in an apartment, thus meaning I have no garden hose to use) to water them down.

[Vanda lover]

I'm now wondering will I get any more bloom if I increase fertilizer. The Pachong blue that I have been growing for over 10 years in a basket in sphag and charcoal gets 4 spikes a year, which last about 2 months each. The flowers are quite large and there are usually 6 or 7. I use 1/4 Plant Prod and sometimes some Schultz Bloom. Could I increase that? I think light is an important factor if you do. It has me thinking that I could get more flowers, but I'm really happy with it anyway.