Vanda Care Question

[stragged]

I have a small collection of Vandas growing under my stilted house. They hang under an overhang facing the west, with a screen enclosure. They get only late afternoon (4 to sunset) direct sun, with bright, in-direct light the rest of the day. (White-washed flooring for sun to reflect off of.) I water them twice a week (Wednesday and Sunday, with a diluted fertilizer solution on Wednesday, and flush on Sunday) while misting them twice a week as well. (Monday and Friday.) I live in the Florida Keys, where it is always humid, with a good breeze blowing most days.


My question is, they all seem to be healthy, with a good shade of light green leaves, but I have recently encountered a problem with drooping leaves. The temperature has been climbing steadily the past few weeks and hits upper 80's most of the days, and my once firm and erect Vanda leaves have started to loose their erectness, and droop down. I am not sure what factor would be causing this, if it is due to hot temperatures (I always thought vandas liked 80+ degree temps.) or if its due to lack of water? Or could it be to little sunlight? Any help would be appreciated!

[elitebettas]

Vandas need copious amounts of water DAILY, depending on sun, humidity, wind, etc. Since they are outside, remember that florida (I live in Orlando), is hot and humid, meaning more than likely not that much moisture in the air since humidity rises when temperatures lower. I would water more. I water my giant vanda (which is outside facing south/shaded) twice a day.

[Ellen]

I would also vote for more water. Even here in Seattle I try to mist my vandas' roots every day. Keep in mind that they don't have any medium to hold the moisture.

[NancyG]

I'm in Florida also and water my vandas everyday. I have also started misting them with worm tea which has really improved their leaves and roots. They seem to be blooming more too. I've only had the vandas a little more than a year so can't tell if it is just the worm tea alone that is improving the overall conditions. Everyone who has tried it seems to think that it really helps.

NancyG

[prisana]

It's also been very windy lately, have you been getting the sea spray on your plants ? I don't know how far you live from the beach.

Try soaking your vandas for at least 20 mins a day in the morning ( let them soak while you get ready for work, that's what I do ), the strong winds rob them of moisture pretty quickly .

[stragged]

Thanks for the info! I will start to water them everyday in the morning's. Will it help if I put some lightly packed sphagnum moss around the base of the plant, to help with retaining some of the moisture throughout the day? Right now I have them in hanging baskets with some charcoal and bark in 'em.

[palito]

definitely more water. I dunk my vanda in a pond and leave it there for an hour or so everyday. Yes moss will help too. I have a small ascocenda in a basket with moss and it is happy there.