Vanda Cultivation in Florida

[sandra]

I just received 4 little, young Vandas and put them in baskets, bare rooted. I'm in humid climate but have space issues and have decided to put them into pots.

Who, here grows in pots and what would the best medium for Vandas be? Vivienne, was there a particular reason why you chose the LECA over another medium? I'm not sure what to use.....

[FLaCo]

Sandra, if I may I will put in my two cents.

Most Vanda I see are bare-root...but mind you these are nursery that have misters and fans.

I grow mind with a Vanda. basket with bark inside and the long roots run loose in the hanging bottom. I still have to water every morning because of warm weather unless it rains.

My folks' Vandas are in baskets but I put Spag. in it instead of the bark. They don't seem to mind it either.

One of the seedlings you have before you received in a basket was in bark and a you can see it was rather healthy... the roots moved easily throughout the bark. I also asked the head nurseyman and he places his vanda seedlings in community pots when they are till developing. He puts them 10 or more in a 4 inch pot with small grade bark mix.
When mature he has them in bare-root for life again, this a nursery.

I don't have to the time to water or mist them 2 or 3 times a day so the bark holds in moisture while I am away at work. I will try one in a basket with LeCa just for the heck of it.

I think your objective should be something that will create what it needs ...it being through a pot, basket, bark, leca. You def. have the power to do it.

My Vandas are in full sunlight but my folks' are mounted on coconut trees which provide lots of hade. Both do fine.

[Uechi]

I personally would not put a vanda in pot. The plants I have love being suspended in baskets. I live in Clearwater, FL and have had no problems with Vandas. Please note most if not all Vandas can get root rot if you don't have a well draining media and container.

[myorchid]

I have a Vanda noid that I have in a pot with large media. It came to me that way and it is growing beautifully. I live in Washington state and really can not water and mist to grow in a basket.

It is potted in a plastic pot that sits in a ceramic pot with gravel and water in the bottom, it does not sit in water. I have it in a southern window with additional artificial light. I also have a humidity tray on the windowsill for additional humidity.

I thought about taking it out and putting it in a basket but decided why change if it is growing and looking good!

Hope that helps.

[digitalgate]

myorchid is the vanda in your avatar?That is mokara. surprisingly this can handle
75% to 100% sunlight and can be grown in pot. One of the easiest vanda i have grown.
my farmer friend once told me.:" If you cannot grow mokara, you dont bother about orchid"
That how easy it is. There is no specific rest for the plant. just 2 or 3 week rest and it
rebloom.Remember you are in the north where sunlight is somewhat lower than what
we have here. Summer is coming and you can put the plant in the great outdoor. Remember
to bring indoor during the night (night is chilly sometime in WA).

[myorchid]

yes, that is my vanda. When should it rebloom? It is really putting out new growth.

We had our first really nice day this spring, temps in the 70's!!

Thanks for the information and let me know about blooming .

[NancyG]

sandra,

No room outside?? All of mine hang outside.

My brother has vandas and he has them in pots but he lives in Wisconsin.

NancyG

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by myorchid

yes, that is my vanda. When should it rebloom? It is really putting out new growth.

We had our first really nice day this spring, temps in the 70's!!

Thanks for the information and let me know about blooming .

Don't let it drop below 65F, you have to keep a look out for the weather. Put
the plant in the sun with shade cloth first(under the tree with some sunlight) , the next month, put it under full sun. Anytime
it show too much sunlight (red spot) put it back into shade under tree)
fertilize every week half strength. You should see spike all the time with only
1 to 2 week rest.

[sandra]

Damien, my biggest concern is light, I don't get enough for my Catts to bloom where I grow my orchids. Before I knew better, I was buying more catts than any other orchid (love them, obviously) and when autumn hit, the light on my patio, disappeared. It's only recently returned and I have until mid Sept. and then, the same issue all over. They're now hanging on a palm tree in front of the house, south/east/west exposures and if I'm still at this address in Sept., will just have to make room for the Vandas when the time comes.

[digitalgate]

get different plant that have different needs then. Well, those that you have...
Buy a T5 grow light or Metal halides to grow them indoor then.

[sandra]

Originally Posted by digitalgate

get different plant that have different needs then. Well, those that you have...
Buy a T5 grow light or Metal halides to grow them indoor then.

These were gifts from a member here on the forum digitalgate....from FLaCo. I've always loved Vandas but was going to wait until I moved to get them. T5's are definitely in the future though.

[Vivienne]

Sandra - my decision is FAR from what should be done. I have no experience with Vanda except this Ascocenda I was given. Mine hangs under the skylight in my shower. Best light I can provide. I changed from sphag to LECA because the moss was staying either soaking wet or crispy. I could not get a happy medium (literally). I was fearful of root rot (which this plant can not afford).