Vandaceous Orchids in S/H ?

[wickidgrrl]

I love the look of Vanda type orchids in hanging baskets or pots, but i've been thinking about S/H. Recently, i received an order of Asvts. Thai Cherry, and Rhynchostylis gigantea with orange flowers. I am wondering if V. orchids are good candidates for S/H ?

If anyone out there is growing them in S/H, i would like to see some pics to get ideas, and see how well they do in this culture. I just might make this into a comparison project, since i received two of each kind.

Here's what my 'chids look like now, and what they will look like fully grown.

[articuno75]

I don't know about S/H, but I do the pot method. It's where you take a bowl and fill it with water. Take a clay pot and invert it into the water. Take another clay pot to put the Vanda in (either bare root or just enough medium to steady the plant) and stack it on top of the inverted pot where the holes match. This creates enough humidity and moisture for the plant. You still have to water, but not near as much as what you would if it were hanging. (This would differ since you are in Florida, I live in Indiana and I mist/water about every 3-4 days.)

[wickidgrrl]

thanks jenny, i might have to to try that on one of them!

[Ochin@]

Jenny, Do you have pictures of that technique? I can't seem to wrap my brain around it!

[articuno75]

Hang on and I'll get a pic.

[articuno75]

Here you go.

The roots look weird and dicolored cause I've been using Essentials and Companion on it (stained the poor thing.) I stopped using it for a while to see if the color will come back.

[Ochin@]

AAAHHHHH.....OK, now I get it, the Vanda gets some moisture from the terracotta pot's wicking properties, right?

[articuno75]

Yep. You still have to water/mist, just depends on the humidity levels and frequency.

[kmarch]

You orchidgeeks never cease to amaze me with the unusual, clever things you come up with to give your orchids what they want.

I would never, in a million years, thought of somethign like this to increase huumidity around vanda roots. Very clever! And it looks like it's working fairly well.

[articuno75]

Kevin I take all the credit for this one. I think Brooke does this as well. I also got this idea from Natt's Orchids. It's great for those who live in lower humid areas and want to try Vandas. I now have two and they're doing wonderful.

[Ray]

That IS a great idea!

FWIW, I cannot grow vandaceous plants in semi-hydroponics in my greenhouse, but folks living in very dry environments tell me they do great for them.

I have grown vandas in clay pots and baskets of PrimeAgra LECA, as that holds moisture well but dries out relatively quickly.

[janet_a]

hmm. i have a little bitty vanda in a basket with coco husk and some large bark stuffed in to steady it; so far so good, but i was wondering what i'll do in winter when the house dries out. this technique makes me think maybe i'll just drop the whole basket in a clay pot and then sit the pot in a saucer and leave a puddle of water in it between waterings....

[digitalgate]

I would not put vanda in S/H unless you have a way to secure the tall plant onto the pot.
One very crucial factor- wind. (vanda need outdoor)

Your pot will be blown from either side. A light pot mean topping over on a regular basis. A
moving plant is also a slow moving plant.

secure the plant onto hanging wire and hang the plant Or secure the plant using strong stick onto the pot and put heavy brick in the pot to lower its centre of gravity.

also gigantea's roots travel all over the place it will not fit into a S/H pot(might need a big pot for this purpose)
Plus your gigantea will need 3 years to achieve blooming size, it does not like to be moved at all. S/H roots are not secure onto the pot and media so the plant will be very slow growing before of the constant movement.
Hopefully these help

[Anton]

Sorry, but it doesn't sit well with me.

Vandas are epiphytes and as such get their moisture from debris off the trees.

They don't like their roots being wet all the time, they have moist spells and dry spells, and that is exactly what S/H is, wet roots all the time.

It just aint natural ..............

[LouisW]

Anton you are more than welcome to your opinion but I must say that i have success growing many sorts of epiphitic orchids in S/H. While it is true that there is constant moisture there is also constant air around the roots, allowing them to breath which seems to be one of the major reasons roots need to dry out. Not saying that you should like S/H im just giving my testemonial to its effectivness.

As for Vandas in S/H, im not sure. Theoretically I dont see why they would not do well and even excell in hydro. My only Vanda is in a teak hanging basket with LECA as the medium. I find that LECA holds water and raises humidity just enough. I still water it every day but I would have to water it four times a day without the LECA.

Now that you mention it i sure could do without watering every single day. I think I will try it when I get a little time. I better do that before it attaches to the basket.

[Anton]

Louis it was Vandas I am referring to. I know other plants do well in it, but not so sure about Vandas they are different.

[jerrymeola]

I would expect the gigantia to do excellent in s/h.

I mentioned in another thread that we are growing Rhyncostylis in Phalaenopsis conditions, sphag and constant moisture in pots under low light. We are getting blooming 2 years out of flasks. The growth rate has been tremendous.

I like the new shade of orange. It is not a color I have seen before. Are you sure it is pure gigantia and not a hybrid?

[exasperatus2002]

Theres hope for me yet. Ive never tried a Vanda because of the humidity requirements but if its working in s/h I may be able to keep one after all.

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

We are getting blooming 2 years out of flasks. The growth rate has been tremendous.

Jerry is right. My four years referred to seed pod to flask. Four years is from flask to blooming size. Meristem will be two years no doubt.

[lmartiny]

I've got a Gigantea. A Rhync.... Resembles a larger leafed Vanda. But likes Phal conditions I think I learned on another thread? I wish I'd put it in a basket but didn't know. It is in a terra cotta orchid pot. Some roots are big and fat and they are pretty aggressive. It is there to stay for now.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Anton

It just aint natural ............

As part of my presentation on semi-hydroponics, I list objections - and that is the first on the list!

My argument is to ask when the last time you saw an epiphytic orchid in nature growing in coconut husk chips or fiber?, growing on a cork oak in Portugal? in a mixture of bark chips, charcoal & perlite?, in sphagnum? a piece of cedar? About the only "natural" natural substrate that might be seen with orchids is tree fern.

It gets laughs and does away with that objection right away.

[digitalgate]

here is the answer
Aranda in the ground

i find my pictures in charcoal, on bark, on fern bark, on tree,

[janet_a]

one of the times i was at RF he was selling a bunch of naked vandas for $10/stem; the sign on them said they were great to plant along borders and stuff. presumably that means stick 'em in the ground..... but that's south florida.

[articuno75]

Originally Posted by janet_a

hmm. i have a little bitty vanda in a basket with coco husk and some large bark stuffed in to steady it; so far so good, but i was wondering what i'll do in winter when the house dries out. this technique makes me think maybe i'll just drop the whole basket in a clay pot and then sit the pot in a saucer and leave a puddle of water in it between waterings....

I have a Vanda that's in a basket sitting in a clay pot now. (Same method) It's doing great. Just be sure that the water only comes to the top of the inverted pot, same as usual.