vanda outdoors

[charleyismydog]

Hi. I am looking at a vanda that is beautiful and wondering if I can provide the right culture. I know they are supposed to summer outside, but that is not a possibility for me. I can however open place in the windowsill that gets lots of light (northeast) and open the window for the entire day. We get a nice breeze there. Does anyone think this would work? I hate to buy it if I can't give it a good life (trying to be a responsible orchid parent).

[tom499]

It needs really good light all day. I pretty much toast my vandas, they can take the sun better than my lawn as long as you give them a cool breeze they'll be fine.

How come you cant keep them outside? if its due to cold nights, just bring them in when it gets dark and then put them back out, as long as you keep the same pattern there fine.

I have a greenhouse i can use, but being in the UK its too cold to leave them out at night even in the summer *glances out the window to see the horizontal rain*...

If you keep it indoors your gonna need to water it well. I would leave it in a bucket up to the lower leaves for at least 2 hours in the morning to make up for the low humidity in the house at night. having a breeze is good as long as the wind is similiar temperature to the air around it. mist it occasionally, but not after midday. keep it cool and water on the leaves wont burn.

[arleneg]

Do you know if the vanda is in a pot or basket? How many hours of sun/bright light are you getting from that northeast window?

If the vanda is in a pot, watering shouldn't be a problem. However, if in a basket, you'll mess up your flooring from the drippings.

Placing a vanda on humidity tray, or near a room humidifier, will help.

I hope I made sense since I'm rather rushed at the moment.

[charleyismydog]

Thanks for the help Tom and ArleneG. I can't keep it outside because I live in a highrise apartment and don't even have a window basket. It is in a pot, so I could keep it in the windowsill on a humidity tray. I have a humidity monitor and the humidity is usually around 60-70 just because these NY summers are SO humid!! I will check the hours of light and get back to you.

[arleneg]

You already have a good start -- good humidity level. Unlike you, I have to water & mist everyday due to low humidity where I live. Make sure you have good air movement. if it's one of those still days, place a fan nearby...on low setting.

What kind of vanda do you have?

[charleyismydog]

Arleneg, I haven't got it yet, but I want it. It's a haruko sumida. Any experience with that kind?

[pikevi]

Do you have a balcony, charleyismydog?

[chefatplay]

charlie, vandas need a lot of light. I hope you can provide enough light in a window to get flowers. Mine are outside facing south under an overhang all day and I live in FL. Can you provide somthing like that? Does another building block your light during the day?

[charleyismydog]

Unfortunately no balcony. I am on the 27th floor on the waterfront though so I don't have other buildings blocking my light. I am concerned about the length of light though. This weekend I am going to monitor how many hours exactly and which position the light hits most.

[chefatplay]

That's a good idea, charlieismydog. The vanda is an interesting plant even without flowers, but the flower is the prize for our patience and caring! All three of mine are blooming now. I love walking up on my front porch. It makes the daily watering and misting worth it.

[pikevi]

I think Vandas can handle long days(sun).

When I had the Vandas indoors the lighting was set from 7am to 9pm everyday. You could hang them up on a stand and keep some tray below to protect the carpet/flooring(parquet).May be more experienced members may advise you differently but I would not worry about having too much sun.

Now they are outside and the 'days' are getting longer (today was from 6 am to 9pm approx.). I have to admit they do get get the direct sun during the entire period. They get direct sun for about 8 hours a day.

I attach a few shots of the vandas that are outside . You could see that they are reasonably healthy annd growing many roots.

Good luck.

[charleyismydog]

Pikevi, thanks for the pics. I had hoped to be able to watch the light conditions all day yesterday since I had the day off for the 4th but it was so dreary out. Hopefully this weekend I will be able to!