Repotting a large vanda

[plantsim]

I purchased a large vanda recently. Its potted in a small plastic basket without any medium. Its in bloom now so I can't repot, but when its done blooming I thought I should. The longest roots hang down almost 2 feet, the plant stands 1 1/2 feet, and the container is a 3" square plastic basket. My question is, when I repot, let's say into a 6" wooden slat basket, should I try to feed the roots through the slats so that they can continue to hang freely? Should I set the plant and roots on top of the basket and let them hang over the sides? Should I "stuff" some of the roots into the basket? Should I use some kind of media even though there is none right now? I'm really unsure about how this is done.

[made4engineering]

Just follow the path of least resistance.... Some roots will be outside, the rest will be in/going through the basket. As far as the medium is concerned, I'm thinking you should put something in there - anything from moss to bark to chopped up little sticks ... it depends on your growing conditions/climate

[pitik101]

personally...I dont repot my Vanda though they are vigorous growers and can absorb alot of stress. But I do prefer to see a mass of roots I do play around those hanging roots...most of the time training them until I could bind, tie and sometimes make a ball of roots...

[norris]

Hi Plantsim, I'm sorry, I can't help much you with your question. I just wanted to say welcome and tell you what a nice looking Vanda you have, those flowers are beautiful!
I recently bought 3 Vanda seedlings at a show, and here in so. CA, I've read it's best to use some kind of medium because of the low humidity here. I have mine in course bark.

[digitalgate]

don't repot. It will be a major setback for the plant. Just water and enjoy.

[Neenie]

Hi & welcome. We love Vanda's - we water our plant so that the roots are piable and feed the roots that we can through the wooden slats and let the rest hang or lay where they are and the plant will adjust to the basket. Since the bare roots love being bare we put nothing into the basket. Good luck and enjoy. See our Vanda by my name.

[LouisW]

I was wondering the exact same thing. I think ill try to fit most of the roots into a vanda basket in hopes of some retaining moisture in my dry climate.

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by LouisW

I was wondering the exact same thing. I think ill try to fit most of the roots into a vanda basket in hopes of some retaining moisture in my dry climate.

for you , the situation is different. You might need to add media.(to increase
moisture). meet up some local orchid society see how they grow. what kind of
light they use, watering regiment,...

[NancyH]

HI, and welcome to the forum. I have some Vandas and I am trying an experiment with 3 of them. I bought a large 1/2 basket (the kind that the wire is covered with plastic)at a home center. I put in the Vandas with a mixture of dried oak leaves, oak twigs, oak moss, largeer bark and some spag on the outside. They love it!. It is a nice loose mixture. With your long roots you may be able to purchase a round basket and gently lower the plant as it and bring the longer roots out through the bottom of the basket and then surround the rest with the lose mixture. That way you will not have to water quite so often if that is a problem. I do mist almost everyday. My plants are in a greenhouse and I am in Central California. Good Luck, Nancy

[flowerchild]

My advice is just to leave the basket on and put it right inside of the wooden basket!!! I am speaking from experience, I tried to remove the little plastic basket and I damaged the root of my vanda and it has never been the same since!!!

[Nancy]

I've read that Vandas do well simply mounted on wire. I wouldn't change a thing. It is growing beautiful and seems to be so happy. I wouldn't tamper with that much success. Just enjoy.

[plantsim]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I think I'm going to go with the idea," if it ain't broke, don't fix it"! Nancy has a good point. There's no need to mess with it if it looks happy. If it were me, I would feel pretty crowded in a tiny basket, but alas, I am not an orchid

[digitalgate]

sometime certain hybrid need to be in media. Even in my weather. They seem to have
some strain of Aranda (one of those with NOID) They have to grow in pot. Their roots
are really huge.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I personally pot up all my Vandaceous, but I am not recommending it to you unless all else fails due to inability to give the plant enough water and humidity. If completely bare, as it effectively is right now doesn't work, and you want to go to the next step of moisture retention by using a larger wooden basket with bark, remember that most wooden baskets can be disassembled to what ever degree necessary to get the plant and roots where you want them by reassembling the slats thru the roots. I think having the base of the plant as low as possible in the basket is a good idea, as the plant will have a little longer in the basket before looking like it out grew it.