Best way to water a vanda

[plantsim]

What is the best way to water a vanda, or how do you water your vanda(s)? Do you soak in a bucket of water? Spray? Have an irrigation system?

I was dipping mine, but I was scared of breaking the sensitive roots, so I went to spraying for a few minutes at a time with a pump sprayer. I'm worried that it isn't getting enough water.

Also, I've heard you can fertilize daily at a diluted level or fertilize weekly at a higher strength. Which do you prefer?

[sruane]

Hi,

I am new, but I have 3 vandaceous orchids (Rhynchostylis gigantea, Asc. Haad Ravai, and Vanda Pachara's Delight). All three are in hanging baskets with a little sphag to stabilize them and retain a little bit of moisture for humidity. With the Rhy. I generally just spray the roots and never let the moss get 100% dry, but most roots hang out of the basket. The other 2 I soak in a bucket everyday unless it's overcast, in which case I usually just mist them (if I soak them on overcast days, the moss doesn't always dry very quickly). The bucket is very deep and I put it in the bathtub and then hang the vanda basket from the spigot so that the plant dangles into it, so the roots don't get compromised or broken.

Both of them seem to be pretty happy with what I've been doing, with new roots forming. The Pachara in particular grows like crazy, I fertilize it very weakly almost every watering, usually skipping a day or 2 a week. I was using a high N fertilizer, but now I use a bloom booster b/c I'd like it to worry about blooming and stop growing for awhile. Also, it was growing so many new roots they were coming out kind of high on the stem and busting right through the leaves, cutting them in half (I was also using some superthrive too). The Asc. wasn't in great shape when I got it, so I am not trying to push it to bloom and use the high N fert. and superthrive with it, it's developing nice new roots.

Sara

[brandank]

Mine hang from trees outside. I water these anywhere from 2 -12x a day with the hose soaking them for a minute or 2 a piece depending how often I come home during the day. The later evening hosing I am pretty careful not to spray the tops of the plants with the hose but I have found it very hard to over water these plants. Then I also use a sprayer to apply fert. 2x or 3x a week. I have found that a dip in worm tea once a week or applying w/ sprayer has helped with the cracking of my roots and seems to of made them pretty happy!

[PalmCityOrchid]

Brandank - Loved your blogspot! Your plants look awesome - cool music too!!!

[Ron]

Hi Plantsim.
I grow my Vandas hung high in a contolled orchid house along with several other genera.
My Vandas are watererd in winter and the cooler days 1 every morning.
In summer and hot days several time in the morning only.
I never water them when temp is extream, I miss a lot also on hot days.

But I water the roots only and only water the foliage on good sunny morning.
I am lucky to have a large rainwater tank and when it has water in it (does it ever rain) i use this as the plants just love the rain water.

I fertiliser in spring, summer and autumn nearly every day. Organic sometime and chemical general orchid fertiliser some days.
Plants seem to be growing and flowering Ok for me.


There is dozens of ways but find a way that suits you orchids and stick to it. Just an insight how I do my watering.

Cheerio
Ron

[Charles]

Hose them with a good shower spray in the morning and I like to do it in the heat of the afternoon. Watch your medium. Vandas can rot right up the stem. If there is too much wet, it could happen to you too.
I do like bare root and I aslo do use some large bark in a basket. It dries each day.
Fertilize weakly weakly unless you begin to see your root ends die off. But I have noticed they do this when the plant takes a break from major blooming too. Like dormancy.