THANKS SO MUCH for providing information for household situations ! Lots of information out there, but so little fits smaller living situations - so, thank you!
What a gorgeous collection! You do so well with all your orchids, but your Vandas are exceptional. What a treat it must be to wake to such beauty each day,and know you are responsible. Truly an inspiration for the home grower... proof careful observation and attention can result in healthy, lush plants.🌱
Thank you this was also very very helpful, I also can't water them every day. Your growing baskets are very practical because those very long roots are difficult to insert in any bucket without breaking them so one ends up taking it to the shower and cannot do a deep soaking like you do.
Absolutely love this video, listened to it several times to get its full impact, and to get the full meaning of every word you used. I’m a beginner orchid grower and I have two vandas which I felt required too much work twice a day to keep them happy. What a relief to learn that "once a week" may be sufficient if done correctly. Thanks for sharing this interesting video.
......a great show, full of useful information. I soak for about 10min......then wait and re-soak for another 30.......I will be giving your overnight soak a try.........I love to see anothers methods that work...the roots on mine are shorter and thicker as well. Thanks for taking the time..........
BB, thanks for such complete info and a chance to see your beautiful vandas. My experiences are similar to yours (I often forget my vanda soaking in water for a whole day). my plant 1 meter tall and hangs 1 foot away from balcony windows (windows are sliding tinted glass 1.5 meter high x 80 cm wide) so it's almost as if it were in open air as windows are open all day, and only partially closed at night,. It swings freely from a mighty hook in the roof and dries out within a couple of hours no matter how long it soaked. it flowers 3 times a year, 10 cm blooms, 11 in total, so I guess it is happy. One funny detail. you can actually see it drink the water, it creates a series of bubbles as it is plunged into its tall bucket, as if was gurgleing!! So agree with you, impossible to over water these guys!
Hi Judy! :) Probably letting them soak so long became a habit, because I just forgot them in the bucket and found that it worked quite well. :D Apparently your Vanda loves the airy place that you chose for her. :) I'm curious, what's its colour? Oh yeah, I love to see and hear those little bubbles that you described! :D I wonder if I've ever catched them on camera.. maybe here at 0:16: ua-cam.com/video/1HUsFZosKnQ/v-deo.html
I now soak my Vandas once maybe twice a week with the exception of my seedlings. Thanks Sooo much for your information. It works for me and my schedule.
Your vandas look so perfect! I like how many beautiful and massive root systems they have. Also, your vandas seem to have such well behaved roots, that grow nicely around the baskets. The vanda I have has very hard and thick roots, that like to grow to the sides, and I think if it was in a basket, instead of embracing it like your vandas do, the roots would grow outside the baskets and away from them. It's such a stubborn plant. It's difficult to have it potted. I like a lot how your vandas look in the basket. The roots with healthy tips look fantastic. Every time I see your Vandachostylis Colmarie, I think of the smell of grapes. I love the colour of the blooms! It was interesting to hear about your experiment, of weighing the plants before and after soaking, and it's really impressive how much water they can hold. I used to be afraid of getting water in between the leaves, but nowadays I take my vanda to the bathroom and I water it with the shower nozzle, and I don't mind if water gets on the lowest leaves, as long as the roots are well watered. No problems so far. I had been too careful for years for no reason, apparently! :) It looks so wonderful that your vandas are all blooming at the same time! I love the Vanda Mimi Palmer too. But all of them are very beautiful!
Thank you, Andrea! :) But they're not all in bloom at the same time, the footage was taken during the summer. Currently four are in spike (brownish, purple, Colmarie and coerulescens) two of which (brownish, purple) have opened their first blooms today. :) Mimi Palmer keeps me waiting, but it's actively growing roots and leaves which is nice, too. I try to thread the roots back into the basket as good as I can. The browinsh Vanda sends out roots all over the place from the stem. :D But ugh, I know such stubborn plants like your Vanda. They just don't know what's good for them. :D How is your Vanda doing at the moment? I love the baskets, but they have downsides, too. After a certain time they become blackish, I think it's called sooty mold. But the plants are doing fine with it, you might have seen the blackish roots on the Vanda that I weighed. Who knows, maybe wet leaf axils are kind of risky, but I really think they aren't as long as it's not cold and airless or the plant is weakened at the same time.
I think 4 in spike is already very good too. 😊 I hope the Mini Palmer will bloom soon. I love the Colmarie, and if I wanted to get another Vanda, that would be on the top of my list. But they are usually too big for my crowded space. My red vanda is doing fine, it has that new root in the media, and 2 new roots outside. I tried to guide one to grow into the pot, but it didn't work, it just pushed the plastic barrier I had made, and I had to remove it, and the root is growing horizontally. It likes to do that, unfortunately, because it is hard to water them and they dry fast. Her roots are very stiff, and hard to train even when very wet. Some vandas have more flexible roots, but this one, I don't like her style. It seems to be doing better, even though there aren't enough roots. And I keep bumping against the plant often, and I fear some day I might accidentally break it, or break the roots. I have a hard time with this plant, because she is stubborn, and takes so long to grow roots, and it is so wide, takes so much space, and I have so many small accidents with her. I wish she was smaller, cute and easier. 😁 But when she was doing better, she bloomed 3 times a year, so it's a great plant, maybe the problem is that she isn't in the conditions that would be best for her. But I like her nevertheless. 😊
I just didn't want to make it seem as if they were all in bloom at the moment. :) I'm glad that your Vanda is doing fine, but it sounds very stubborn, indeed. :/ I know the problem with stiff roots from my Rhynchostylis gigantea. Everytime I try to redirect a stubborn root it cracks. I hope your Vanda will do better in spring when the sun comes out on a regular basis and will start blooming again. :)
Brilliant watering plan for vandas! I've had poor luck keepings a them in the past because I probably didn't soak them to saturation.. I have just one ascoscenda at the moment, doing well in a plastic pot with lava rock. it's in a cooler brighter spot and I think I will soak it on those warmer sunny days. I will reconsider getting another vanda. Thanks for sharing your very successful orchid culture.
Thank you! I'm sorry that you had poor luck in the past. :/ I think it's a good idea to water your Ascocenda on warmer, sunny days rather than on dark and cool days. :) Happy growing! :)
This year I have been soaking once a week as well! So far so good and 7-8 are in bloom. In the summer they go outside and are watered daily. In the winter they hang in my windows and this year get once a week watering. Last year I watered daily or every other day and this year got lazy and realized they didn't mind! I also usually end up soaking in the evening because I have been forgetting they are soaking and I have quite a few so it takes long...but they ate fine!
Hi Roberta, wow 7-8 in bloom - that's wonderful! :D I've four in spike or just coming in bloom, but I only have eight in total, so I'm fine with it. :) I experienced the same thing. They rarely mind if I'm getting lazy.
I will have to try this method when the weather warms up a bit. I'm new to Vandas. I have 2, a Betty May Steel and Pure's Wax since Nov 2016, that I soak for 20-30 mins before work (I'm always walking up late) . Then I set them on top of a glass vase or plastic container so they're not sitting in water and they're always in the garden window. I'll hang them up on my curtain rod before I go to bed and repeat. I live in San Diego, CA btw.
Hi Trang. As long as watering them doesn't become a burden that's a very good way to go. And it's a very good idea to start experimenting when the weather warms up a bit. :) Happy growing!
That's so cool, I haven't watched your video yet, but I will! :) From what I can tell they don't just die from drought alone. In extreme cases drought can weaken a plant, but a week or even two weeks isn't extreme for a healthy, mature Vanda. :)
This was such a helpful video! I just bought my first 2 vandas and I'm trying to decide what type of watering schedule to put them on. This answered so many of my questions. I was surprised to see you have the same ones I bought...the blue ones. One has an extensive root system and the other one is fine but not so extensive. I was going to mist the one with the smaller roots daily. I'm vastly relieved to find out that I can actually leave them up to a week without watering as the root systems grow.:) I'll be watching this video again and again. Great information and absolutely lovely vandas!
Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked the video. :) I use to observe new plants much closer and pamper them until they have established themselves completely. But after some time of adjustment on my windowsill they tend to become quite resilient when it comes to drought. From what I can tell they're really rewarding and undemanding. Happy growing! :)
Such a relief to see this! I fell in love with a hanging Vanda at the hardware store and somewhat regret it. I don't mind daily watering, but having to haul a bucket full of water is a pain. I'd been considering putting in a vase, but I just love the hanging style. I'll have to try this out!
hi BB! I just saw in your note you were curious to know what is the colour of my vanda. it is pink (like an old rose type of pink) , and looks a lot like your purplish blue vanda. very large flowers, 11 in all. funny thing, the first bud has only 3 petals, while the other 10 flowers have 5. it did this all the 3 times it flowered. the flowers are 8 to 10 cm. in diameter.
Hi Judy, that sounds beautiful. I like rose type colours a lot. Oh, that's a really funny habit that it did the thing with the three petals three times in a row. But apart from that it seems to be a very happy and rewarding plant. :)
Hi Great video, it has helped me decide if I could have a vanda growing on a windowsill. I didn't think I'd have the time to water them every morning and I wasn't sure growing in a vase would work, as my windowsills aren't very big. Thank you for sharing your experience, I'm looking forward to more videos and to getting a vanda!
I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll find a healthy Vanda that will do very well on your windowsill. Depending on where you live you might consider buying in spring/summer rather than in autumn, since light and temperatures might be lower in autumn/winter making it more difficult for your new Vanda to adapt. :)
I managed to get a small vanda coerulea! It seems to be happy enough, root tips are pushing out and the newest leaf is pushing on nicely. I think I'm in love even without any blooms!
I am frequently checking back on your vanda video anb it seems you have flowers most of the year! Can you recommend the website /place where you bought your v.colmarie and mimi pulmer and your brown vanda? I know you had problems with them in the past but nurse them to be healthy and lovely as they are now. Please let me know where you got them from?
Some of them bloom very reliably, especially the brownish and the large purple one. The nursery I got the brownish Vanda from doesn't exist anymore. But I saw V. Colmarie (under the name (Vandachostylis Sri-Siam x Rhynchostylis gigantea) and Mimi Palmer on ebay. :)
Thanks for replying bumblebee, i plan to grow them on a east facing window. the humidity is 50%, temp is 70f. during the day. evening usually 68f, humidity 46.
That sounds really good. To be honest I think I would just give it a try and wouldn't saddle myself with a humidifier. My humidity is about 50% at the moment and they don't care. I'd observe the Vanda for a few weeks or months and if it suffers from the dry air you can still try out different things like keeping it in a vase or wrapping the roots with spanish moss, coconut fibers, synthic (-> never really appealed to me, but it seems to work very well for MissOrchidGirl Danny) or even potting it up in large bark chips.
Beautiful vanda collection! I wish I knew them better! my vandas refuse to flower and I had them for almost two years now. I tried every thing but don't have green root tips either. I think my environment is not as high humid as they like it. By the way thanks for doing this video . I will try your method.
Bumblebee mine is about 50-60% sometimes a bit more but still think they need about 70%? Yours all looking great. I will try soaking once a week for min 2hrs to see how they do.
I think they'd love about 70%, but I rarely have it. I mostly have 55-65%, but during winter it's mostly around 50% due to the heating and they don't mind. Let me know how they're doing in a while. :)
Hi bumblebee.Love the video!You're Vanda orchids are so beautiful and so big.They look like from rain forest.Will definitely try to grow one after you're video.Never wanted to run around the house with dripping plant and especially everyday.😃 Thank you for you're videos and thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your kind words, Jelena! :) I really hope you'll enjoy your first Vanda and find a way of maintaining it without it being too much of a hassle. :) Happy growing!
Your vanda collection is beautiful. I have always admired these. Vandas are just so exotic but they are hard to find in the UK. Where do you buy yours? The day I finally found some for sale I was scared of the watering demands. I bought a blue one and left this amazing pink one behind. I work 12.5 hour shifts and thought I'd struggle. I regret leaving that pink one behind because I've found them easy. No root rot or hassling with repotting - this definitely makes up for a bit of extra water! I soak about 4 times a week for an hour or so, no evidence of dehydration at all. After seeing the vanda do well bare root, I am growing a cattleya in a vase with no media. I fill the vase with water when I do my vanda and drain after an hour. It is my healthiest cattleya by far. I don't leave it for days in water though, just an hour or so. There are root tips everywhere. My vanda came with those extremely long roots. They are beautiful but one by one they caught on things or cracked and snapped off. Very difficult to handle a dry vanda with long roots like that and somehow get it into a bucket. I'd much rather have lots of shorter roots than long ones!!!
Thank you, Al! :) Vandas look so beautiful bare rooted, but I've never kept them that way for more than a few weeks, because of what you described: The roots crack and snap off too quickly during handling and are doing better for me protected by something around them like a pot, a vase, a basket. Okay, let's see. I've bought two in a nursery that doesn't exist anymore, one was from ebay, two are from private sellers and three from other nurseries one of which is Schwerte. I'm sure one day you'll find a pink one like the one you left behind, fingers crossed! If you're looking for something special and have the chance to visit one of the larger orchid shows in the UK you could preorder from Dr. Motes or Jerry Fischer.
I will have a look for orchid shows. There must be some in London. I'm new to orchids but maybe one day I will be brave enough to make videos on my collection. What is your experience of vandas in pots? I am terrible with phalaenopsis so I wouldn't dare putting my vanda in media. I'd like to try it in a vase though if only to protect the roots. I think orchids are easy or hard depending on personality of the grower. The easiest orchids for me are miltoniopsis and oncidiums because I water frequently. The hardest are phalaenopsis and maybe this is why cattleyas work well for me bare root! Funny, isn't it? I guess we all should just follow whatever method works well for us with each type of orchid.
+Al C Have you ever thought about treating your phals the same way as you treat your vandas? Try one using your vanda method and you just might be surprised at how well it turns out. :)
Thank you Samantha! My cattleyas love being bare root and then flooded with water. Just like a vanda. I have a very sick bare-root phal who lost its roots but is coming back on its aerial roots. Whenever I have a sick orchid, the first thing I do is take away the media. It makes me question if media does more harm than good...?
Oh yes, you should definitely make videos! ;) The Vanda in the video (the potted up purple one) loved the pot with the big chunks of bark and also the second one that I still have. It grew so many roots in one year, it's fantastic. But I think it would have grown these roots everywhere else like in a vase or basket or without any container. Another one (the brownish one) grew very nice roots in a pot with bark, but I had to unpot it after about two years, because the root tips weren't happy anymore. That's when it got the huge basket. It's funny, I can't grow Miltoniopsis and Oncidiums at all. :D Maybe you don't need to soak your Vanda 4 times a week for an hour. You could try out 2 times a week and see what happens just to make things easier. :)
ooooh those vandas all in bloom at once and the mimi palmer, heard it smells really great! think you are spot on on the root mass thing, same goes for my Phals, they get water every 2 weeks (talk about low maintenance!) about vandas.. have you ever seen vandas with closed leaves soaked every night all night long? never saw one.. until last summer :( happy a nice wet 'sweater' fixed it :)))
Thank you, Danny! :) But they aren't in bloom all at once at the moment. The footage was taken when they were in bloom this summer. At the moment four are in spike, two of which have opened their first flowers today. If you like the scent of hyacinths, you'll like the scent of V. Mimi Palmer. But I think somebody said that he/she didn't like the scent of hyacinths, but I don't remember who it was. I just know that it irritated me, because I love the scent. :) Just to check that I've got it right: Do I know the Vanda with the sweater? And is it a Synthic sweater? :)
Great video. I always enjoy your videos. Could you tell me what your climate is like. What is your humidity like in your home. I think I heard you say you have had the Vanda's like this for 5 years. They seem to love what you are doing.
Hi Susan, thank you! :) I have 50-70% humidity, mostly 60%, and room temperatures (17 to 27, mostly 20-22°C or so). Some of them have been with me for about five years, others a bit shorter. I got the blue, the brownish and the big purple Vanda in 2011, the Rhynchostylis in 2013, the little pink one in 2014.
you shall write a book on vanda.what are you saying in the video,it can turn into a book and it will be very valuable.thank you for all the good information.
Thank you for showing us your amazing vandas and for sharing your experiences. I always love videos that show people's own experiences in growing rhater than what books say. I have also read through all the comments below. I would love to try your method but have two major concerns. The first is that my light levels, year round, would not be as great as yours and perhaps potential underwatering, coupled with low light, might have a bad effect. And my second concern is about the overnight watering as I too, like Bettina below, have a bathroom with night temperatures of 12-13 degrees. I think perhaps what I will do is try your method with my coerulea as it takes lower temperatures anyway and I cannot pot it. Interesting too, I thought that 30-40 mins was the time in which an orchid could absorb the maximum amount of water but now I no longer remember where I read that :) I have recently been offered free vandas and refused them. Now you make me reconsider ;-)
Thank you, Rachel! :) Oh wow, free Vandas, that's quite a temptation! :o I should have weighed the Vanda after 30 minutes and again after 12 hours to see how much of a difference there is. I think they are able to absorb a lot in 30mins, but it might need more time to rehydrate the whole plant (not only the roots) and set it up for another "drought period". I'm not quite sure about the light levels. We had an extremely dark winter so far. The sunny days since November could be counted on the fingers of one hand and I didn't even remove the sheer curtain. Surprisingly, four Vandas are in spike/bloom. I would still always choose the brightest spot for them, but I'm not exactly sure how much they really need. The coldness might be an issue, it's hard to tell. Maybe if you start experimenting in spring/early summer and/or try to water on sunny days when the sun is warming up the bathroom a bit? I don't know if you mentioned how often you use to water them. Let's say currently you water them every other day. If you're worried that you might underwater them you could start with twice a week and see how it goes. The thing is, I do see that my Vandas become lighter. There are slight changes in the leaves, the roots become thinner. But it's as if the roots and hardy leaves act as actual storage organs. The plants just don't mind and grow and bloom. I don't think they'd do better if they were watered more often. Bye for now and happy growing! :)
Okay, thank you. I did not do a scientific experiment but this week I watered my unpotted vandas for about two hours. I can tell you that the roots are definitely greener than they normally go from my half hour watering. They were so green I thought they were covered in moss first :O
Hi 🐝Looking at your Vandas and their very healthy beautiful roots shows that you do a perfect job. Vandas are more rewarding than time consuming. Yours look really awesome ! In our bathroom there're only 13 to 15 degrees Celsius at night. Do you think it's too cold ? I would love to let them soak there for a whole night just as you do but I don't dare because of the cold temperature. I usually soak them for only one hour in lukewarm water when they look dry but the roots doesn't look as happy as yours. Your video is brilliant ! Thank you ! Have a wonderful day ☀️🍀🦋
Bumblebee Thank you 🐝for your kind reply. I'll definitely give it a try. Have a wonderful day and happy growing, lots of happiness 🍀and beautiful flowers !
Wow your vandas are gorgeous! Vandas are what I have the most trouble growing and I haven't rebloomed one yet. I am too lazy to water them every day in the winter and I have really been neglecting them this winter. I'm going to try soaking them for 2+ hours instead of spraying them. Do you not water the aerial roots at all? On the larger ones it looked like they had grown out and then down into the baskets- did you train them to do that or they did it on their own?
great video...I agree with everything you said about roots and have noticed these things as well including root thickness and after having owned a Vanda longer it seems to be able to go longer. I read that the most water a Vanda can absorb takes approx 8 minutes but that some growers swear by 20 minutes.
That's interesting. I tend to think it takes longer to hydrate the whole plant if it's kind of dehydrated after a week or longer without water. I should have weighed the Vanda after 20 minutes and after 12 hours to see how much of a difference there is. :D
That would be interesting to find out. If you decide to try it let us know in a video! Mine usually are soaked longer than the 20 minutes just because I get busy with other things or I forget I need to swap them out. I have 14 that are blooming size and 25 seedlings. The seedlings are being experimented on! Some seedlings are in semi hydro, some hanging bareroot and some in water culture....so far ALL are healthy!!
I'll keep that in mind. :) But it will take some time, because I'd like to take the same Vanda and would like to wait until it has finished blooming. It's the same here, I always get distracted when I water my plants so that they're being watered for hours. 14+25 - that's fantastic! :D Keep me posted on which method works best for your seedlings. :)
So far they are all working! I think seedlings tend to adapt much better than mature plants to different growing conditions...at least mine seem to although I am too scared to try anything other than hanging bareroot for my bigger ones!
What type of medium do you put in your baskets? Do you like using Spanish moss in them as well? Mine are hanging bare root from a wire but I am considering putting them in hanging wooden basket and hanging that way. If I do this, I would be interested in using something in the basket to keep the roots moist. Your Vandas look so healthy! Thanks!
Hi Anna, sorry for the late reply! I don't have any medium in the baskets except for a few big chunks of bark in some of them. I also used to wrap coconut fibers around the roots of my Rhynchostylis gigantea, but it didn't provide much additional moisture. I don't use Spanish moss, but I think it might create a nice microclimate around the roots and it looks very nice. :)
I love this revelation! I'm still on watering everyday during day time only. I fell free now! lol. well, I'm not going to change it tomorrow, but surely will start changing things around to see how plants adapt to it. Deep inside I thought it could be possible after seeing someone's video visiting an abandoned orchidarium in Long Beach, California. (I think it was John Benedict s video, not sure) Anyway, on the video it showed this abandoned Vandas and they looked good in my opinion, and I know California weather is dry. So I thought they adapted to it, but I was always so afraid of missing one day of watering it. Silly me.
Thank you, Priscilla! :D Although I don't know your growing conditions I'd say if your Vandas have somewhat of a root system you don't have to be afraid if you miss one day of watering. :) And you don't have to change everything at once, but maybe you can start experimenting a bit and find a method that meets your needs as well as your Vanda's. :) If I'm not mistaken John lives in Florida, I think. But anyway, I absolutely agree with you! They are able to adapt to their environment quite well. :) Happy growing!
Very good video. Just got 3 small vandas & lost most of the roots due to water issue. I will soak for 2 hrs/3x-wk & hanging on a palm three. My backyard is wide open/ mountain slope & CA weather, will few barks be ok to keep moisture? Will try the cattleya watering too. I love your vandas. Am jealous 😊😊😊. U inspired me to buy more(cheap one ) & do trial & error. I'm an epidendrum orchids " poor mans orchids' freak cuz it's easy to grow Thanks a lot Orkids55
Hi there and sorry for the late reply. I missed your comment somehow. I think CA weather is very different from my windowsill conditions, but in a good way. I imagine they'll do very well hanging on a palm tree. I don't know if they need bark chips to keep moisture, just try it out, it won't be too risky. Happy growing! :)
Stunning collection! Do you have any suggestions for compact(ish) highly fragrant ones? They don't have to be 'mini', but not a 3' wide one either...maybe about 1 - 1.5 feet wide? I love aerides houlletiana
Thank you! :) Yes, I happen to have a few suggestions for you: In fact, many species Vandas are fragrant and rather compact. With Vandas wild-harvesting seems to be a serious issue. I'd try to find a trustworthy nursery that sells propagated plants. V. coerulescens is great, compact, highly and deliciously fragrant. Also Neofinetias and some of their hybrids have an absolutely delicious fragrance (I think like jasmin). In case they're not very bushy specimens, they're pretty mini. Rhynchostylis gigantea is quite compact and has a very interesting fragrance. Vanda tessellata is also very pretty and fragrant (like hyacinths). By the way, you see my Aerides houlletiana at 9:49. I had it for .. maybe three years. It was a lovely plant with a very nice growth pattern. But I ran out of patience and sold it, because it wouldn't bloom for me.
Well not thinking of anything as tiny as neo. Had one, sold it. Have a 'giant' Lou Sneary. As far as poached plants..you didn't see my long conversation with another grower who ordered an endangered paph species from China where it was native and poached. Lol. Thank you for warning me about that though. I always figured that if I started buying vandas, that I'd get them from motes, Andy's, or orchid dynasty. Aaand I just assumed you're in the United States. Are you living here or somewhere else? Anyway, if you're not familiar, Motes has been growing vandas forever and, from my understanding, has good business practices. And orchid dynasty is a 'local' orchid nursery in Salt Lake City, Utah. The owner, Clint, is very careful about where his plants come from and he raises a lot of species himself from seed. Andy has the largest collection of species in the USA..maybe the world, and he raises stuff from seed and is very conservation-minded. There are some videos about him on here. He's also a really nice person and that's where I got my eldorado from. He still remembers that sale. Lol. I've always wanted a vanda tricolor v. suavis. Rhynchostylis gigantea... I know they take some time to get to size, but I saw one at a show and it was massive. My memory could be doing that thing where the fish gets bigger and bigger every time the story is told, but I swear the one I saw was at lest two and a half feet wide. I'd think coelistis may be smaller? Oh speaking of fragrance..my lemforde and my bosseri are both in bud right now. They normally have opposite blooming times, but recently I increased my day length to summer time hours to rehabilitate some heriloom cattleyas, and I think that is what triggered the lemforde. I can't wait! Thank you for the suggestions! I never would have thought that coerulescens had fragrance.
Hello. Incredibile Vandas!!!!! Congratulations! Could you please tell me if you water them with RO water only, or you mix it with tap water and if in what proportion? And what fertilizer do you use? Do you add fertilizer at every watering? I see some blackish deposits on some of your Vanda roots. I have them on all my Vanda roots (maybe less on the seedlings). I thought it is due to my extremly hard tap water so now I'm switching to RO. But you use RO and still have some deposists. What do you think the cause is? Thank you
Hi and thank you! :) Sometimes I add a bit tap water water, because it makes it a bit more economical and Vanda roots aren't too sensitive anyway. But my tap water is quite hard, I can't use it in large quantities. I have an e.c. meter that helps me to determine how much tap water or fertilizer to add. I add fertilizer at most waterings, but in rather small amounts. I think those blackish deposits are some kind of a fungus similar to sooty mold. It doesn't seem to harm the roots and I don't know how to prevent it. You could rub them off with a tooth brush or dissolve them with hydrogen peroxide, but for me it would take ages to clean all affected roots and I bet the fungus (or whatever it may be) would reappear in no time. ;) In case you're interested, in this video I talk a bit about Vanda roots, too (6:18-7:38): ua-cam.com/video/-D49xvAW4ds/v-deo.html
I hv this blue color vanda blooming . Do you know iD ? Will update once full bloom :) May i know which apps you used to make this video and u stick your logo at left top corner ? Look awesome . I am still watering every day each for 20-30 min each batch . I have to make 5-7 batch killed most of my time . I do not know but I am benefited by socking every - very day. !! Even I sock in the evening if I am late in morning . I have 50+ vandashis at this moment 5/6 in bloom another 3/4 in spike now .
It´s a very nice video!!! Thanks!!! Tell me please, if you window situated in the west or east ???? It is different to grow them : Sunlight in the morning , or sunlight in the evening ?
My window has a southern exposure, quite much light. I think west and east can work well. But it also depends on the needs of your Vandas: Some need very much light to bloom, some a bit less. You can experiment with shading/no shading, the distance to the window and so on.
I have one vanda that I purchased in December. I'm going to try this soaking method! Thank you for sharing a wonderful idea. Do you mix fertilizer in the water!
What is the purpose of the little net pot that they sell Vanda's in? I bought my first Vanda and started removing that little pot, but quit because some of the roots were stuck tight to it. I won't be able to remove this little plastic pot without damaging some roots.
I really dislike those black plastic net pots that they sell Vandas in. I think they have little wholes for those wire hangers and that might be their only purpose. I have removed all but one of those pots and I've damaged many roots in the process. But the only thing I regret is not having removed the last one, too. ;)
Also if I do place my bare rooted Vanda into a large wooden basket, should I feed the roots through the bottom of the pot or just curl them up all directly in the box? Thanks, I'm so new at this! : )
I just curl them in the basket, because otherwise I'd damage them sooner or later when I water them. I hope your Vandas will like their new baskets in case you try it out. :) Happy growing!
Hello, great video, thank you. I have question. I have a Rhynchostylis retusa. I got it as a gift. The plant was going to be thrown out but I asked the guy at the SF orchid show if I can have it, so he gave it to me. the plant had blackness at the base of the leaves. He removed some of them and noticed it looked better as he removed a few more. there are a few roots as well. What is the best way you would suggest I care for it now? Thanks any thoughts will help.
+Susan Alexander Oh, that's tough. But judging from what you wrote, I'd water it strictly separately and try to provide really good conditions, lots of air movement, much light, no cool temperatures. I wouldn't spray with a fungicide, but it's an option. I'm afraid that doesn't help much. Good luck! 🍀
Just purchased my first vanda. Yours are amazing and I would like to start my care by following your routine. I have a couple questions. Do you use fresh water and fertilizer for each watering? Is there a particular type of wood that is best for baskets? Thank you!
Thank you. I don’t use new water and fertiliser each time. It lasts about two to three, sometimes even four weeks before it becomes too unsightly. My baskets are made from discarded tropical woods or bought second hand. I wouldn’t recommend purchasing them, because I always fear they replaced rainforest with plantations. Soft pine wood becomes blackish quite soon, hardwood is better.
Hi Siamak, thank you! The winter temperatures on the windowsill range from 17-24°C, but are mostly between 18-22°C and about 15-17°C in the interior bathroom. Happy growing! :)
I think I saw in your videos a Renanthopsis, could you do a video on it and share your thoughts? I love your videos about primary hybrid and species phals, very few people does them :)
I've just filmed an extensive Phalaenopsis update. :) I might finish editing by next week. I wish I hadn't repotted my Renanthopsis, though. It has lost many roots which was a huge setback. But spring is flowering time for this cross and luckily it's working on a spike. :)
Thank you for your informative video! I just got my first vanda (I am become to get an orchid obsession... hahaha) I have some questions, how can you tell if a vanda is thirsty? what about the lighting requirement? Thank you again
Hi Yuu, check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/XP4-hTvh_3M/v-deo.html at 5:58. There I show signs of dehydration. Vandas are light loving orchids. So give them as much light as you can as long as it doesn't burn the leaves. Happy growing! :)
Hi Bumblebee! Your vandas are very beautiful! I’ve a seedling of vanda garayi orchid delivered to me last Oct. in bark. T’was mottled & dehydrated. Recently. I transferred to semi water culture. I soaked it with fertilized water 2days then dried for 5 days but alternately spritz the roots with water. Now it’s growing new leaf but I don’t see any root growth. Will it grow new roots along the way? How long a vanda seedling can grow new roots? Thanks for the info.
Hi Elizabeth! If it's not sick roots will emerge at some point as long as it's hydrated enough. Seedlings are quite sensitive, though. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your little. V. garayi will establish itself soon.
Hi Bumblebee, My area is very dry I have to leave my Vandas in water for 2 hours in early morning then spray it 3 times a day after that soaking. I want to find out, how often should I change the water with ferterizer in it. Love your voice .. thank you
Thank you so much and sorry for replying so late. I keep the water for about 1-4 weeks depending how it looks like. Strangely enough it never smells bad, but water in buckets that have a cover seems to stay fresh much longer. Happy growing! :)
I really love your videos, so informative! My daughter and I are new to vanda growing. She is embracing your over night watering system although I worry she is doing it too much. She has humidifiers directly under all her vandas so the roots stay fairly green all the time from the mist and she is also soaking them overnight every night. Do you feel that they might be getting watered too much? Thank you!
Hi Leann, it’s hard to tell. I would look out for signs of overwatering like yellow or brown spots on leaves and roots. It depends on your/your daughter’s environment. If it’s hot&dry I would imagine that they might enjoy the constant misting, because they might lose quite a lot of moisture via their leaves. Also, the plant size and the size of the root system matter. If the root system is very extensive it can hold a lot of moisture and less frequent watering is required. My bigger Vandas are very drought resistant. At the end it comes down to try and error. I don’t feel very helpful with this answer, but it’s the best I can say. Happy growing and stay safe! 🌺🌿
I have been watching your videos for some days and being inspired to grow vanda orchids at my balcony.Your plants are extremely beautiful. How old are they? I am from lndia.
My oldest Vandas (the two biggest ones) have been in my care for 10 years. I guess they were about 3-4 years old when I got them. Greetings from Europe to India! :)
I have started growing one and following your watering routine. My first plant is named as 'somsree pink' and it has started growing well.Thank you for your very very appropriate videos. I have many other plants in my garden including fruit trees but had no idea about growing orchids.
At some point I'll be going away for a couple of weeks and I certainly cannot expect anyone to water my vandas the way I do. Do you think for that duration (2 weeks) I could leave them in water in vases and change back to my routine when I return?
Some stated in the comments that leaving the roots in water for too long can damage root tips. Probably people who do full water culture could answer your question better than I can. For my Vandas two weeks without water in hot summer are very tough. In winter, though, it would work for me. But not all plants are same. I think I'd experiment a bit beforehand. You could try leaving a little bit water at the bottom of the vase so that only a few roots are touching it and see how it goes. Happy growing!
Thank you I think I will leave them in water just for my vacation and return to their normal watering schedule when I return. Seems like the best option without a Vanda sitter, LOL@
I am hoping to find a Vanda sitter but if I cannot, they would die wouldn't they if left out of water for 2 weeks? I've experimented already on one and had it in water for a whole week and it did okay. I returned it to my normal watering routine after that but may try one for 2 weeks to see how it does.
A Vanda sitter. :D I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll find one. I'd say it really depends on the plants. My big ones would suffer a bit if I wouldn't water them for two weeks in summer, but they wouldn't die. But the very small miniature Vandas might dry until they're crisp and might die. It's hard to say. If you feel more comfortable with leaving them it water I don't want to talk you into anything. Have a nice weekend! :)
I really enjoyed your video :) I recently bought my first Vanda, and I love it. It looks similar to the large blue/purple one in your video. I've been using a similar technique, but only for an hour or so - I'll make sure to try soaking longer! My biggest issue is that it is bare rooted, and I'm always afraid of damaging roots when I lower the whole thing into a bucket. Do you think adding a basket would be a good idea? I would also like it to be more stable while in the bucket, so it doesn't have to rely on resting against the wall, and I think a basket would help with that too. It may be a bit of a logistical nightmare to get it into a basket, as the roots are nearly a meter by themselves, but possibly worth it in the long run! :)
Hi Peter, I appreciate the baskets for protecting the roots, holding some water and for the fact that the Vandas can stand on their own and don't have to drip dry hanging. Soak the roots really well if you choose to put it in a basket, remove all dead or not so nice looking roots (better safe than mushy roots after a couple of weeks) and try to place the Vanda in the basket with a carefully twisting motion. Good luck and happy growing! :)
@@bumblebeesorchids3408 Many thanks for your reply! It sounds like a basket will be a good idea. I will try to find one big enough as the roots are huge! Thanks again! :)
Hi Miss Bee ! I find this method very interesting. Don't know if you have stated in previous videos in what part of the world you live in, but my concern is that since I live in Canada, would my cool nights be a problem with soaking overnight ? Thanks for any feedback, keep up the good work !
Hi Diana, thank you. :) I live in Europe and I have an interior bathroom with winter night temperatures of about 15-17°C. Cooler temperatures might be an issue, it's hard to tell where's the line. Maybe if you start experimenting in spring/early summer and/or try to water on sunny days when the sun is warming up the bathroom a bit - in case your bathroom does have windows. :)
I recently got 2 Vandas. A purple large blooms and a mustard yellow which has smaller flowers. Need advice on watering when I am away on holiday for 2 weeks or longer. I was told to water them as soon as the roots appear white. Would appreciate your feedback. Thank you. Best wishes 🇨🇭🎄🎅
Hi Luxmi, if I would water my Vandas every time the roots appear white I'd do nothing else. After watering the roots are green for a few hours and silvery for the rest of the week, but that doesn’t mean they need water again. In case your Vanda is healthy and has a very good root system you could soak it until saturation (about 24h). Most probably it will show signs of dehydration after two weeks, but won't suffer too much. You could put it in a vase with some water in it so that it can drink a couple of days. But be careful in case of low temperatures.
@@bumblebeesorchids3408 Thank you for the tips. They have been a great help. Your root system is very healthy I had to cut off all the thin stringy black ones. Hope my Vandas will one day have roots like yours. Wish you a wonderful festive season🎅🎄🇨🇭🥳. Ps. Where can I acquire the wooden baskets that you use. I live in central Europe.
Hi Dilshan, you should try to identify the cause of the black spots and try to provide best possible conditions concerning light, water quality, temperatures, humidity and so on. On Vandas (and Oncidiums) a disease called Phyllosticta is quite common. It's a fungal infection that leads to small black spotting, but usually doesn't kill a plant. Maybe you can find the cause of the black spot on this website: staugorchidsociety.org Happy growing!
I think that I heard The Orchid Whisperer (Amy) uses a copper fungicide spray a couple of times a month(on cattleya's, also) to control any black spot and even as a preventative, especially during growing season. Maybe that would help, but keep it away from all dendrobiums. They don't like copper.
I apologize in advance if you have mentioned this (and I just didn't notice), but what level of humidity do you maintain in your home? I feel as if I should supplement the humidity. In the winter here, the humidity can get very very low. Thanks.
No need to apologise, I don't remember if I mentioned it anytime. :) My humidity levels range between 50 and 70% depending on the season and the weather.
My plants are grown at a South facing windowsill in Central Europe. We have 4 Seasons (dry&hot summers, wet&cool winters). Temperatures: Mostly 17-27°C/63-81°F; Humidity: 50-70%
love your video, i plan to buy my first vanda orchid this spring, however, my home is very dry any suggestion as to how to prepare my grow space for this type of orchid? Thanks
Noo, good job! I think putting a goldfish in that bowl would have been the poor road. :D Many Vandas do very well in vases or bowls, I'll keep my fingers crossed. Happy growing!
THANKS SO MUCH for providing information for household situations ! Lots of information out there, but so little fits smaller living situations - so, thank you!
What a gorgeous collection! You do so well with all your orchids, but your Vandas are exceptional. What a treat it must be to wake to such beauty each day,and know you are responsible. Truly an inspiration for the home grower... proof careful observation and attention can result in healthy, lush plants.🌱
You're too kind, Laurie!
Thank you this was also very very helpful, I also can't water them every day. Your growing baskets are very practical because those very long roots are difficult to insert in any bucket without breaking them so one ends up taking it to the shower and cannot do a deep soaking like you do.
Absolutely love this video, listened to it several times to get its full impact, and to get the full meaning of every word you used. I’m a beginner orchid grower and I have two vandas which I felt required too much work twice a day to keep them happy. What a relief to learn that "once a week" may be sufficient if done correctly. Thanks for sharing this interesting video.
Wow, thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comment, Andre! Happy growing! :)
......a great show, full of useful information. I soak for about 10min......then wait and re-soak for another 30.......I will be giving your overnight soak a try.........I love to see anothers methods that work...the roots on mine are shorter and thicker as well. Thanks for taking the time..........
Thank you Rick! :) Let me know if it works for you someday. Happy growing! :)
Very informative and your way of presenting is fabulous. I just got my first 2 Vanda Orchids and trying to figure out a routine for my schedule!!!
Thank you, Beth. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you're going to find a routine that suits you. Happy growing! :)
BB, thanks for such complete info and a chance to see your beautiful vandas. My experiences are similar to yours (I often forget my vanda soaking in water for a whole day). my plant 1 meter tall and hangs 1 foot away from balcony windows (windows are sliding tinted glass 1.5 meter high x 80 cm wide) so it's almost as if it were in open air as windows are open all day, and only partially closed at night,. It swings freely from a mighty hook in the roof and dries out within a couple of hours no matter how long it soaked. it flowers 3 times a year, 10 cm blooms, 11 in total, so I guess it is happy. One funny detail. you can actually see it drink the water, it creates a series of bubbles as it is plunged into its tall bucket, as if was gurgleing!! So agree with you, impossible to over water these guys!
Hi Judy! :) Probably letting them soak so long became a habit, because I just forgot them in the bucket and found that it worked quite well. :D
Apparently your Vanda loves the airy place that you chose for her. :) I'm curious, what's its colour?
Oh yeah, I love to see and hear those little bubbles that you described! :D I wonder if I've ever catched them on camera.. maybe here at 0:16: ua-cam.com/video/1HUsFZosKnQ/v-deo.html
I now soak my Vandas once maybe twice a week with the exception of my seedlings. Thanks Sooo much for your information. It works for me and my schedule.
That's great, thank you for letting me know, tania! :) Happy growing!
This is a really helpful video. Watering once a was very stressful and when I started soaking them over night they look a lot happier. Thank you.
I‘m glad watering overnight works so well for you. Happy growing! :)
Your vandas look so perfect! I like how many beautiful and massive root systems they have. Also, your vandas seem to have such well behaved roots, that grow nicely around the baskets. The vanda I have has very hard and thick roots, that like to grow to the sides, and I think if it was in a basket, instead of embracing it like your vandas do, the roots would grow outside the baskets and away from them. It's such a stubborn plant. It's difficult to have it potted. I like a lot how your vandas look in the basket. The roots with healthy tips look fantastic. Every time I see your Vandachostylis Colmarie, I think of the smell of grapes. I love the colour of the blooms! It was interesting to hear about your experiment, of weighing the plants before and after soaking, and it's really impressive how much water they can hold. I used to be afraid of getting water in between the leaves, but nowadays I take my vanda to the bathroom and I water it with the shower nozzle, and I don't mind if water gets on the lowest leaves, as long as the roots are well watered. No problems so far. I had been too careful for years for no reason, apparently! :) It looks so wonderful that your vandas are all blooming at the same time! I love the Vanda Mimi Palmer too. But all of them are very beautiful!
Thank you, Andrea! :) But they're not all in bloom at the same time, the footage was taken during the summer. Currently four are in spike (brownish, purple, Colmarie and coerulescens) two of which (brownish, purple) have opened their first blooms today. :) Mimi Palmer keeps me waiting, but it's actively growing roots and leaves which is nice, too.
I try to thread the roots back into the basket as good as I can. The browinsh Vanda sends out roots all over the place from the stem. :D But ugh, I know such stubborn plants like your Vanda. They just don't know what's good for them. :D How is your Vanda doing at the moment?
I love the baskets, but they have downsides, too. After a certain time they become blackish, I think it's called sooty mold. But the plants are doing fine with it, you might have seen the blackish roots on the Vanda that I weighed.
Who knows, maybe wet leaf axils are kind of risky, but I really think they aren't as long as it's not cold and airless or the plant is weakened at the same time.
I think 4 in spike is already very good too. 😊 I hope the Mini Palmer will bloom soon. I love the Colmarie, and if I wanted to get another Vanda, that would be on the top of my list. But they are usually too big for my crowded space. My red vanda is doing fine, it has that new root in the media, and 2 new roots outside. I tried to guide one to grow into the pot, but it didn't work, it just pushed the plastic barrier I had made, and I had to remove it, and the root is growing horizontally. It likes to do that, unfortunately, because it is hard to water them and they dry fast. Her roots are very stiff, and hard to train even when very wet. Some vandas have more flexible roots, but this one, I don't like her style. It seems to be doing better, even though there aren't enough roots. And I keep bumping against the plant often, and I fear some day I might accidentally break it, or break the roots. I have a hard time with this plant, because she is stubborn, and takes so long to grow roots, and it is so wide, takes so much space, and I have so many small accidents with her. I wish she was smaller, cute and easier. 😁 But when she was doing better, she bloomed 3 times a year, so it's a great plant, maybe the problem is that she isn't in the conditions that would be best for her. But I like her nevertheless. 😊
I just didn't want to make it seem as if they were all in bloom at the moment. :)
I'm glad that your Vanda is doing fine, but it sounds very stubborn, indeed. :/ I know the problem with stiff roots from my Rhynchostylis gigantea. Everytime I try to redirect a stubborn root it cracks.
I hope your Vanda will do better in spring when the sun comes out on a regular basis and will start blooming again. :)
Bumblebee
Brilliant watering plan for vandas! I've had poor luck keepings a them in the past because I probably didn't soak them to saturation.. I have just one ascoscenda at the moment, doing well in a plastic pot with lava rock. it's in a cooler brighter spot and I think I will soak it on those warmer sunny days.
I will reconsider getting another vanda. Thanks for sharing your very successful orchid culture.
Thank you! I'm sorry that you had poor luck in the past. :/ I think it's a good idea to water your Ascocenda on warmer, sunny days rather than on dark and cool days. :)
Happy growing! :)
Thanks. Your voice is so soothing and the info makes sinse
Thank you, Sarah! :) Happy growing!
This year I have been soaking once a week as well! So far so good and 7-8 are in bloom. In the summer they go outside and are watered daily. In the winter they hang in my windows and this year get once a week watering. Last year I watered daily or every other day and this year got lazy and realized they didn't mind! I also usually end up soaking in the evening because I have been forgetting they are soaking and I have quite a few so it takes long...but they ate fine!
Hi Roberta, wow 7-8 in bloom - that's wonderful! :D I've four in spike or just coming in bloom, but I only have eight in total, so I'm fine with it. :) I experienced the same thing. They rarely mind if I'm getting lazy.
I will have to try this method when the weather warms up a bit. I'm new to Vandas. I have 2, a Betty May Steel and Pure's Wax since Nov 2016, that I soak for 20-30 mins before work (I'm always walking up late) . Then I set them on top of a glass vase or plastic container so they're not sitting in water and they're always in the garden window. I'll hang them up on my curtain rod before I go to bed and repeat. I live in San Diego, CA btw.
Hi Trang. As long as watering them doesn't become a burden that's a very good way to go. And it's a very good idea to start experimenting when the weather warms up a bit. :) Happy growing!
Such a great video, recently I got my first mature vanda and I was worried I have to water every day, now I am relaxed :)
That's so cool, I haven't watched your video yet, but I will! :) From what I can tell they don't just die from drought alone. In extreme cases drought can weaken a plant, but a week or even two weeks isn't extreme for a healthy, mature Vanda. :)
This was such a helpful video! I just bought my first 2 vandas and I'm trying to decide what type of watering schedule to put them on. This answered so many of my questions. I was surprised to see you have the same ones I bought...the blue ones. One has an extensive root system and the other one is fine but not so extensive. I was going to mist the one with the smaller roots daily. I'm vastly relieved to find out that I can actually leave them up to a week without watering as the root systems grow.:) I'll be watching this video again and again. Great information and absolutely lovely vandas!
Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked the video. :) I use to observe new plants much closer and pamper them until they have established themselves completely. But after some time of adjustment on my windowsill they tend to become quite resilient when it comes to drought. From what I can tell they're really rewarding and undemanding. Happy growing! :)
Those Vanda Orchids are truly beautiful....Congratulations...to you...
Thank you for sharing your lovely work...Stay safe...
Thank you very much, Zaleha! Happy growing and stay save!
Such a relief to see this! I fell in love with a hanging Vanda at the hardware store and somewhat regret it. I don't mind daily watering, but having to haul a bucket full of water is a pain. I'd been considering putting in a vase, but I just love the hanging style. I'll have to try this out!
Good luck with your Vanda. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you find a way of keeping it that is not too much of a hassle.
hi BB! I just saw in your note you were curious to know what is the colour of my vanda. it is pink (like an old rose type of pink) , and looks a lot like your purplish blue vanda. very large flowers, 11 in all. funny thing, the first bud has only 3 petals, while the other 10 flowers have 5. it did this all the 3 times it flowered. the flowers are 8 to 10 cm. in diameter.
Hi Judy, that sounds beautiful. I like rose type colours a lot.
Oh, that's a really funny habit that it did the thing with the three petals three times in a row. But apart from that it seems to be a very happy and rewarding plant. :)
Hi Great video, it has helped me decide if I could have a vanda growing on a windowsill. I didn't think I'd have the time to water them every morning and I wasn't sure growing in a vase would work, as my windowsills aren't very big. Thank you for sharing your experience, I'm looking forward to more videos and to getting a vanda!
I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll find a healthy Vanda that will do very well on your windowsill. Depending on where you live you might consider buying in spring/summer rather than in autumn, since light and temperatures might be lower in autumn/winter making it more difficult for your new Vanda to adapt. :)
I managed to get a small vanda coerulea! It seems to be happy enough, root tips are pushing out and the newest leaf is pushing on nicely. I think I'm in love even without any blooms!
Yay! :D
Thank you, i will keep you posted come spring ☺
Perfect! :) Happy growing!
I am frequently checking back on your vanda video anb it seems you have flowers most of the year! Can you recommend the website /place where you bought your v.colmarie and mimi pulmer and your brown vanda? I know you had problems with them in the past but nurse them to be healthy and lovely as they are now. Please let me know where you got them from?
Some of them bloom very reliably, especially the brownish and the large purple one. The nursery I got the brownish Vanda from doesn't exist anymore. But I saw V. Colmarie (under the name (Vandachostylis Sri-Siam x Rhynchostylis gigantea) and Mimi Palmer on ebay. :)
Thanks for replying bumblebee, i plan to grow them on a east facing window. the humidity is 50%, temp is 70f. during the day. evening usually 68f, humidity 46.
That sounds really good. To be honest I think I would just give it a try and wouldn't saddle myself with a humidifier. My humidity is about 50% at the moment and they don't care. I'd observe the Vanda for a few weeks or months and if it suffers from the dry air you can still try out different things like keeping it in a vase or wrapping the roots with spanish moss, coconut fibers, synthic (-> never really appealed to me, but it seems to work very well for MissOrchidGirl Danny) or even potting it up in large bark chips.
Beautiful vanda collection! I wish I knew them better! my vandas refuse to flower and I had them for almost two years now. I tried every thing but don't have green root tips either. I think my environment is not as high humid as they like it. By the way thanks for doing this video . I will try your method.
Thank you, Mary! :) Did you happen to show your Vandas in one of your videos? I have about 50% humidity at the moment. Do you know yours?
Bumblebee mine is about 50-60% sometimes a bit more but still think they need about 70%? Yours all looking great. I will try soaking once a week for min 2hrs to see how they do.
I think they'd love about 70%, but I rarely have it. I mostly have 55-65%, but during winter it's mostly around 50% due to the heating and they don't mind.
Let me know how they're doing in a while. :)
Hi bumblebee.Love the video!You're Vanda orchids are so beautiful and so big.They look like from rain forest.Will definitely try to grow one after you're video.Never wanted to run around the house with dripping plant and especially everyday.😃 Thank you for you're videos and thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your kind words, Jelena! :) I really hope you'll enjoy your first Vanda and find a way of maintaining it without it being too much of a hassle. :) Happy growing!
Wow, your Vandas are incredible 💖
Thank you, VonDa! 🌺😊
Always a pleasure to see your vanda collection, my friend :)
Thank you, Sam! :)
Your vanda collection is beautiful. I have always admired these. Vandas are just so exotic but they are hard to find in the UK. Where do you buy yours? The day I finally found some for sale I was scared of the watering demands. I bought a blue one and left this amazing pink one behind. I work 12.5 hour shifts and thought I'd struggle. I regret leaving that pink one behind because I've found them easy. No root rot or hassling with repotting - this definitely makes up for a bit of extra water! I soak about 4 times a week for an hour or so, no evidence of dehydration at all. After seeing the vanda do well bare root, I am growing a cattleya in a vase with no media. I fill the vase with water when I do my vanda and drain after an hour. It is my healthiest cattleya by far. I don't leave it for days in water though, just an hour or so. There are root tips everywhere. My vanda came with those extremely long roots. They are beautiful but one by one they caught on things or cracked and snapped off. Very difficult to handle a dry vanda with long roots like that and somehow get it into a bucket. I'd much rather have lots of shorter roots than long ones!!!
Thank you, Al! :) Vandas look so beautiful bare rooted, but I've never kept them that way for more than a few weeks, because of what you described: The roots crack and snap off too quickly during handling and are doing better for me protected by something around them like a pot, a vase, a basket.
Okay, let's see. I've bought two in a nursery that doesn't exist anymore, one was from ebay, two are from private sellers and three from other nurseries one of which is Schwerte. I'm sure one day you'll find a pink one like the one you left behind, fingers crossed! If you're looking for something special and have the chance to visit one of the larger orchid shows in the UK you could preorder from Dr. Motes or Jerry Fischer.
I will have a look for orchid shows. There must be some in London. I'm new to orchids but maybe one day I will be brave enough to make videos on my collection. What is your experience of vandas in pots? I am terrible with phalaenopsis so I wouldn't dare putting my vanda in media. I'd like to try it in a vase though if only to protect the roots. I think orchids are easy or hard depending on personality of the grower. The easiest orchids for me are miltoniopsis and oncidiums because I water frequently. The hardest are phalaenopsis and maybe this is why cattleyas work well for me bare root! Funny, isn't it? I guess we all should just follow whatever method works well for us with each type of orchid.
+Al C Have you ever thought about treating your phals the same way as you treat your vandas? Try one using your vanda method and you just might be surprised at how well it turns out. :)
Thank you Samantha! My cattleyas love being bare root and then flooded with water. Just like a vanda. I have a very sick bare-root phal who lost its roots but is coming back on its aerial roots. Whenever I have a sick orchid, the first thing I do is take away the media. It makes me question if media does more harm than good...?
Oh yes, you should definitely make videos! ;)
The Vanda in the video (the potted up purple one) loved the pot with the big chunks of bark and also the second one that I still have. It grew so many roots in one year, it's fantastic. But I think it would have grown these roots everywhere else like in a vase or basket or without any container. Another one (the brownish one) grew very nice roots in a pot with bark, but I had to unpot it after about two years, because the root tips weren't happy anymore. That's when it got the huge basket.
It's funny, I can't grow Miltoniopsis and Oncidiums at all. :D
Maybe you don't need to soak your Vanda 4 times a week for an hour. You could try out 2 times a week and see what happens just to make things easier. :)
Wow your vandas are huge!
Some are, indeed. :D Thanks for stopping by and happy growing!
This was so interesting and helpful :) thanks
I am gonna try soaking them overnight once or twice a week.
Thank you very much! I’m glad if it helps. Take care! 🌸
Very beautiful vandas, thank for valuable advice.. but how do you water vandas in winter?
ooooh those vandas all in bloom at once and the mimi palmer, heard it smells really great! think you are spot on on the root mass thing, same goes for my Phals, they get water every 2 weeks (talk about low maintenance!) about vandas.. have you ever seen vandas with closed leaves soaked every night all night long? never saw one.. until last summer :( happy a nice wet 'sweater' fixed it :)))
Thank you, Danny! :) But they aren't in bloom all at once at the moment. The footage was taken when they were in bloom this summer. At the moment four are in spike, two of which have opened their first flowers today. If you like the scent of hyacinths, you'll like the scent of V. Mimi Palmer. But I think somebody said that he/she didn't like the scent of hyacinths, but I don't remember who it was. I just know that it irritated me, because I love the scent. :)
Just to check that I've got it right: Do I know the Vanda with the sweater? And is it a Synthic sweater? :)
Great video. I always enjoy your videos. Could you tell me what your climate is like. What is your humidity like in your home. I think I heard you say you have had the Vanda's like this for 5 years. They seem to love what you are doing.
Hi Susan, thank you! :) I have 50-70% humidity, mostly 60%, and room temperatures (17 to 27, mostly 20-22°C or so). Some of them have been with me for about five years, others a bit shorter. I got the blue, the brownish and the big purple Vanda in 2011, the Rhynchostylis in 2013, the little pink one in 2014.
you shall write a book on vanda.what are you saying in the video,it can turn into a book and it will be very valuable.thank you for all the good information.
Haha, thank you! :D Happy growing and have a very nice weekend!
Thank you for showing us your amazing vandas and for sharing your experiences. I always love videos that show people's own experiences in growing rhater than what books say. I have also read through all the comments below.
I would love to try your method but have two major concerns. The first is that my light levels, year round, would not be as great as yours and perhaps potential underwatering, coupled with low light, might have a bad effect. And my second concern is about the overnight watering as I too, like Bettina below, have a bathroom with night temperatures of 12-13 degrees. I think perhaps what I will do is try your method with my coerulea as it takes lower temperatures anyway and I cannot pot it.
Interesting too, I thought that 30-40 mins was the time in which an orchid could absorb the maximum amount of water but now I no longer remember where I read that :)
I have recently been offered free vandas and refused them. Now you make me reconsider ;-)
Thank you, Rachel! :) Oh wow, free Vandas, that's quite a temptation! :o
I should have weighed the Vanda after 30 minutes and again after 12 hours to see how much of a difference there is. I think they are able to absorb a lot in 30mins, but it might need more time to rehydrate the whole plant (not only the roots) and set it up for another "drought period".
I'm not quite sure about the light levels. We had an extremely dark winter so far. The sunny days since November could be counted on the fingers of one hand and I didn't even remove the sheer curtain. Surprisingly, four Vandas are in spike/bloom. I would still always choose the brightest spot for them, but I'm not exactly sure how much they really need.
The coldness might be an issue, it's hard to tell. Maybe if you start experimenting in spring/early summer and/or try to water on sunny days when the sun is warming up the bathroom a bit?
I don't know if you mentioned how often you use to water them. Let's say currently you water them every other day. If you're worried that you might underwater them you could start with twice a week and see how it goes. The thing is, I do see that my Vandas become lighter. There are slight changes in the leaves, the roots become thinner. But it's as if the roots and hardy leaves act as actual storage organs. The plants just don't mind and grow and bloom. I don't think they'd do better if they were watered more often.
Bye for now and happy growing! :)
Okay, thank you. I did not do a scientific experiment but this week I watered my unpotted vandas for about two hours. I can tell you that the roots are definitely greener than they normally go from my half hour watering. They were so green I thought they were covered in moss first :O
Bumblebee 9
Hi 🐝Looking at your Vandas and their very healthy beautiful roots shows that you do a perfect job. Vandas are more rewarding than time consuming. Yours look really awesome ! In our bathroom there're only 13 to 15 degrees Celsius at night. Do you think it's too cold ?
I would love to let them soak there for a whole night just as you do but I don't dare because of the cold temperature.
I usually soak them for only one hour in lukewarm water when they look dry but the roots doesn't look as happy as yours.
Your video is brilliant ! Thank you ! Have a wonderful day ☀️🍀🦋
Hi Bettina! :D
Bumblebee Thank you 🐝for your kind reply. I'll definitely give it a try. Have a wonderful day and happy growing, lots of happiness 🍀and beautiful flowers !
Wow your vandas are gorgeous! Vandas are what I have the most trouble growing and I haven't rebloomed one yet. I am too lazy to water them every day in the winter and I have really been neglecting them this winter. I'm going to try soaking them for 2+ hours instead of spraying them. Do you not water the aerial roots at all? On the larger ones it looked like they had grown out and then down into the baskets- did you train them to do that or they did it on their own?
Excellent video my dear and very helpful!
Thank you very much, I'm glad you liked it. :)
great video...I agree with everything you said about roots and have noticed these things as well including root thickness and after having owned a Vanda longer it seems to be able to go longer. I read that the most water a Vanda can absorb takes approx 8 minutes but that some growers swear by 20 minutes.
That's interesting. I tend to think it takes longer to hydrate the whole plant if it's kind of dehydrated after a week or longer without water. I should have weighed the Vanda after 20 minutes and after 12 hours to see how much of a difference there is. :D
That would be interesting to find out. If you decide to try it let us know in a video! Mine usually are soaked longer than the 20 minutes just because I get busy with other things or I forget I need to swap them out. I have 14 that are blooming size and 25 seedlings. The seedlings are being experimented on! Some seedlings are in semi hydro, some hanging bareroot and some in water culture....so far ALL are healthy!!
I'll keep that in mind. :) But it will take some time, because I'd like to take the same Vanda and would like to wait until it has finished blooming.
It's the same here, I always get distracted when I water my plants so that they're being watered for hours.
14+25 - that's fantastic! :D Keep me posted on which method works best for your seedlings. :)
So far they are all working! I think seedlings tend to adapt much better than mature plants to different growing conditions...at least mine seem to although I am too scared to try anything other than hanging bareroot for my bigger ones!
.
Roberta Grigsby
What type of medium do you put in your baskets? Do you like using Spanish moss in them as well? Mine are hanging bare root from a wire but I am considering putting them in hanging wooden basket and hanging that way. If I do this, I would be interested in using something in the basket to keep the roots moist. Your Vandas look so healthy! Thanks!
Hi Anna, sorry for the late reply! I don't have any medium in the baskets except for a few big chunks of bark in some of them. I also used to wrap coconut fibers around the roots of my Rhynchostylis gigantea, but it didn't provide much additional moisture. I don't use Spanish moss, but I think it might create a nice microclimate around the roots and it looks very nice. :)
Thank you!
that dark purple one is stunning :O
I agree. Thanks for stopping by. 🌸🌺
I love this revelation! I'm still on watering everyday during day time only. I fell free now! lol. well, I'm not going to change it tomorrow, but surely will start changing things around to see how plants adapt to it. Deep inside I thought it could be possible after seeing someone's video visiting an abandoned orchidarium in Long Beach, California. (I think it was John Benedict s video, not sure) Anyway, on the video it showed this abandoned Vandas and they looked good in my opinion, and I know California weather is dry. So I thought they adapted to it, but I was always so afraid of missing one day of watering it. Silly me.
Thank you, Priscilla! :D Although I don't know your growing conditions I'd say if your Vandas have somewhat of a root system you don't have to be afraid if you miss one day of watering. :) And you don't have to change everything at once, but maybe you can start experimenting a bit and find a method that meets your needs as well as your Vanda's. :)
If I'm not mistaken John lives in Florida, I think. But anyway, I absolutely agree with you! They are able to adapt to their environment quite well. :) Happy growing!
Very good video. Just got 3 small vandas & lost most of the roots due to water issue. I will soak for 2 hrs/3x-wk & hanging on a palm three. My backyard is wide open/ mountain slope & CA weather, will few barks be ok to keep moisture?
Will try the cattleya watering too.
I love your vandas. Am jealous 😊😊😊. U inspired me to buy more(cheap one ) & do trial & error.
I'm an epidendrum orchids " poor mans orchids' freak cuz it's easy to grow
Thanks a lot
Orkids55
Hi there and sorry for the late reply. I missed your comment somehow.
I think CA weather is very different from my windowsill conditions, but in a good way. I imagine they'll do very well hanging on a palm tree. I don't know if they need bark chips to keep moisture, just try it out, it won't be too risky. Happy growing! :)
Your video is great. Thank you for all the information.
Stunning collection! Do you have any suggestions for compact(ish) highly fragrant ones? They don't have to be 'mini', but not a 3' wide one either...maybe about 1 - 1.5 feet wide? I love aerides houlletiana
Thank you! :) Yes, I happen to have a few suggestions for you: In fact, many species Vandas are fragrant and rather compact. With Vandas wild-harvesting seems to be a serious issue. I'd try to find a trustworthy nursery that sells propagated plants. V. coerulescens is great, compact, highly and deliciously fragrant. Also Neofinetias and some of their hybrids have an absolutely delicious fragrance (I think like jasmin). In case they're not very bushy specimens, they're pretty mini. Rhynchostylis gigantea is quite compact and has a very interesting fragrance. Vanda tessellata is also very pretty and fragrant (like hyacinths).
By the way, you see my Aerides houlletiana at 9:49. I had it for .. maybe three years. It was a lovely plant with a very nice growth pattern. But I ran out of patience and sold it, because it wouldn't bloom for me.
Well not thinking of anything as tiny as neo. Had one, sold it. Have a 'giant' Lou Sneary. As far as poached plants..you didn't see my long conversation with another grower who ordered an endangered paph species from China where it was native and poached. Lol. Thank you for warning me about that though. I always figured that if I started buying vandas, that I'd get them from motes, Andy's, or orchid dynasty. Aaand I just assumed you're in the United States. Are you living here or somewhere else? Anyway, if you're not familiar, Motes has been growing vandas forever and, from my understanding, has good business practices. And orchid dynasty is a 'local' orchid nursery in Salt Lake City, Utah. The owner, Clint, is very careful about where his plants come from and he raises a lot of species himself from seed. Andy has the largest collection of species in the USA..maybe the world, and he raises stuff from seed and is very conservation-minded. There are some videos about him on here. He's also a really nice person and that's where I got my eldorado from. He still remembers that sale. Lol.
I've always wanted a vanda tricolor v. suavis. Rhynchostylis gigantea... I know they take some time to get to size, but I saw one at a show and it was massive. My memory could be doing that thing where the fish gets bigger and bigger every time the story is told, but I swear the one I saw was at lest two and a half feet wide. I'd think coelistis may be smaller? Oh speaking of fragrance..my lemforde and my bosseri are both in bud right now. They normally have opposite blooming times, but recently I increased my day length to summer time hours to rehabilitate some heriloom cattleyas, and I think that is what triggered the lemforde. I can't wait! Thank you for the suggestions! I never would have thought that coerulescens had fragrance.
Hello. Incredibile Vandas!!!!! Congratulations! Could you please tell me if you water them with RO water only, or you mix it with tap water and if in what proportion? And what fertilizer do you use? Do you add fertilizer at every watering?
I see some blackish deposits on some of your Vanda roots. I have them on all my Vanda roots (maybe less on the seedlings). I thought it is due to my extremly hard tap water so now I'm switching to RO. But you use RO and still have some deposists. What do you think the cause is?
Thank you
Hi and thank you! :) Sometimes I add a bit tap water water, because it makes it a bit more economical and Vanda roots aren't too sensitive anyway. But my tap water is quite hard, I can't use it in large quantities. I have an e.c. meter that helps me to determine how much tap water or fertilizer to add. I add fertilizer at most waterings, but in rather small amounts.
I think those blackish deposits are some kind of a fungus similar to sooty mold. It doesn't seem to harm the roots and I don't know how to prevent it. You could rub them off with a tooth brush or dissolve them with hydrogen peroxide, but for me it would take ages to clean all affected roots and I bet the fungus (or whatever it may be) would reappear in no time. ;) In case you're interested, in this video I talk a bit about Vanda roots, too (6:18-7:38): ua-cam.com/video/-D49xvAW4ds/v-deo.html
I hv this blue color vanda blooming . Do you know iD ?
Will update once full bloom :)
May i know which apps you used to make this video and u stick your logo at left top corner ? Look awesome .
I am still watering every day each for 20-30 min each batch . I have to make 5-7 batch killed most of my time .
I do not know but I am benefited by socking every - very day. !!
Even I sock in the evening if I am late in morning . I have 50+ vandashis at this moment 5/6 in bloom another 3/4 in spike now .
It´s a very nice video!!! Thanks!!! Tell me please, if you window situated in the west or east ???? It is different to grow them : Sunlight in the morning , or sunlight in the evening ?
My window has a southern exposure, quite much light. I think west and east can work well. But it also depends on the needs of your Vandas: Some need very much light to bloom, some a bit less. You can experiment with shading/no shading, the distance to the window and so on.
Wow ! Fantastique ! Superbe collection ! Merci 💕🌺🥀🚿😘🤣
Merci beaucoup! :D
Very informative video, BB! Your vandas are simply beautiful!
Thank you, Susana! Happy growing! :)
I have one vanda that I purchased in December. I'm going to try this soaking method! Thank you for sharing a wonderful idea. Do you mix fertilizer in the water!
Hi Barb, yes. There's some fertilizer in the water most of the time. Not too much, though. Happy growing! :)
What is your fertilizer mix?
What is the purpose of the little net pot that they sell Vanda's in? I bought my first Vanda and started removing that little pot, but quit because some of the roots were stuck tight to it. I won't be able to remove this little plastic pot without damaging some roots.
I really dislike those black plastic net pots that they sell Vandas in. I think they have little wholes for those wire hangers and that might be their only purpose. I have removed all but one of those pots and I've damaged many roots in the process. But the only thing I regret is not having removed the last one, too. ;)
Also if I do place my bare rooted Vanda into a large wooden basket, should I feed the roots through the bottom of the pot or just curl them up all directly in the box? Thanks, I'm so new at this! : )
I just curl them in the basket, because otherwise I'd damage them sooner or later when I water them. I hope your Vandas will like their new baskets in case you try it out. :) Happy growing!
Thank you!
Sure looks like you're doing what's best for your Vandas; right amount of water, feed and sunshine... I wouldn't change a thing. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝☺
Yet again: Thank you for those kind words, John!
And you sure know I love those bumblebees! :D !!!
Bumblebee ö
Hello, great video, thank you. I have question. I have a Rhynchostylis retusa. I got it as a gift. The plant was going to be thrown out but I asked the guy at the SF orchid show if I can have it, so he gave it to me. the plant had blackness at the base of the leaves. He removed some of them and noticed it looked better as he removed a few more. there are a few roots as well. What is the best way you would suggest I care for it now? Thanks any thoughts will help.
+Susan Alexander Oh, that's tough. But judging from what you wrote, I'd water it strictly separately and try to provide really good conditions, lots of air movement, much light, no cool temperatures. I wouldn't spray with a fungicide, but it's an option. I'm afraid that doesn't help much. Good luck! 🍀
Just purchased my first vanda. Yours are amazing and I would like to start my care by following your routine. I have a couple questions. Do you use fresh water and fertilizer for each watering? Is there a particular type of wood that is best for baskets? Thank you!
Thank you. I don’t use new water and fertiliser each time. It lasts about two to three, sometimes even four weeks before it becomes too unsightly. My baskets are made from discarded tropical woods or bought second hand. I wouldn’t recommend purchasing them, because I always fear they replaced rainforest with plantations. Soft pine wood becomes blackish quite soon, hardwood is better.
Bumblebee's Orchids Thank you so much! Appreciate your help and your videos!
Great video.Thank you. Would you tell us how warm you keep you home.
Hi Siamak, thank you! The winter temperatures on the windowsill range from 17-24°C, but are mostly between 18-22°C and about 15-17°C in the interior bathroom. Happy growing! :)
thanks
I think I saw in your videos a Renanthopsis, could you do a video on it and share your thoughts? I love your videos about primary hybrid and species phals, very few people does them :)
I've just filmed an extensive Phalaenopsis update. :) I might finish editing by next week. I wish I hadn't repotted my Renanthopsis, though. It has lost many roots which was a huge setback. But spring is flowering time for this cross and luckily it's working on a spike. :)
Thank you for your informative video! I just got my first vanda (I am become to get an orchid obsession... hahaha) I have some questions, how can you tell if a vanda is thirsty? what about the lighting requirement? Thank you again
Hi Yuu, check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/XP4-hTvh_3M/v-deo.html at 5:58. There I show signs of dehydration. Vandas are light loving orchids. So give them as much light as you can as long as it doesn't burn the leaves. Happy growing! :)
Beautiful root tips..very useful video
I'm glad you liked it. Happy growing, Jennifer! :)
Hi Bumblebee! Your vandas are very beautiful! I’ve a seedling of vanda garayi orchid delivered to me last Oct. in bark. T’was mottled & dehydrated. Recently. I transferred to semi water culture. I soaked it with fertilized water 2days then dried for 5 days but alternately spritz the roots with water. Now it’s growing new leaf but I don’t see any root growth. Will it grow new roots along the way? How long a vanda seedling can grow new roots? Thanks for the info.
Hi Elizabeth! If it's not sick roots will emerge at some point as long as it's hydrated enough. Seedlings are quite sensitive, though. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your little. V. garayi will establish itself soon.
Hi Bumblebee, My area is very dry I have to leave my Vandas in water for 2 hours in early morning then spray it 3 times a day after that soaking. I want to find out, how often should I change the water with ferterizer in it. Love your voice .. thank you
Thank you so much and sorry for replying so late. I keep the water for about 1-4 weeks depending how it looks like. Strangely enough it never smells bad, but water in buckets that have a cover seems to stay fresh much longer. Happy growing! :)
So BEAUTIFUL!
Thank you! :)
I really love your videos, so informative! My daughter and I are new to vanda growing. She is embracing your over night watering system although I worry she is doing it too much. She has humidifiers directly under all her vandas so the roots stay fairly green all the time from the mist and she is also soaking them overnight every night. Do you feel that they might be getting watered too much? Thank you!
I found out she is overnight soaking just twice weekly but the roots stay green from the mist.
Hi Leann, it’s hard to tell. I would look out for signs of overwatering like yellow or brown spots on leaves and roots. It depends on your/your daughter’s environment. If it’s hot&dry I would imagine that they might enjoy the constant misting, because they might lose quite a lot of moisture via their leaves. Also, the plant size and the size of the root system matter. If the root system is very extensive it can hold a lot of moisture and less frequent watering is required. My bigger Vandas are very drought resistant. At the end it comes down to try and error. I don’t feel very helpful with this answer, but it’s the best I can say. Happy growing and stay safe! 🌺🌿
I have been watching your videos for some days and being inspired to grow vanda orchids at my balcony.Your plants are extremely beautiful. How old are they? I am from lndia.
My oldest Vandas (the two biggest ones) have been in my care for 10 years. I guess they were about 3-4 years old when I got them. Greetings from Europe to India! :)
I have started growing one and following your watering routine. My first plant is named as 'somsree pink' and it has started growing well.Thank you for your very very appropriate videos. I have many other plants in my garden including fruit trees but had no idea about growing orchids.
Very helpful. And your voice is sweeter than a piece of candy!!! You should narrate audio books for a living!
Are you serious? 😄 Thanks a lot, happy growing and stay save!
At some point I'll be going away for a couple of weeks and I certainly cannot expect anyone to water my vandas the way I do. Do you think for that duration (2 weeks) I could leave them in water in vases and change back to my routine when I return?
Some stated in the comments that leaving the roots in water for too long can damage root tips. Probably people who do full water culture could answer your question better than I can. For my Vandas two weeks without water in hot summer are very tough. In winter, though, it would work for me. But not all plants are same. I think I'd experiment a bit beforehand. You could try leaving a little bit water at the bottom of the vase so that only a few roots are touching it and see how it goes. Happy growing!
Thank you I think I will leave them in water just for my vacation and return to their normal watering schedule when I return. Seems like the best option without a Vanda sitter, LOL@
Are you planning to keep them in water for two weeks? I think I wouldn't dare doing that. Doesn't mean it cannot work. I've never tried it. :)
I am hoping to find a Vanda sitter but if I cannot, they would die wouldn't they if left out of water for 2 weeks? I've experimented already on one and had it in water for a whole week and it did okay. I returned it to my normal watering routine after that but may try one for 2 weeks to see how it does.
A Vanda sitter. :D I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll find one. I'd say it really depends on the plants. My big ones would suffer a bit if I wouldn't water them for two weeks in summer, but they wouldn't die. But the very small miniature Vandas might dry until they're crisp and might die. It's hard to say. If you feel more comfortable with leaving them it water I don't want to talk you into anything. Have a nice weekend! :)
I really enjoyed your video :) I recently bought my first Vanda, and I love it. It looks similar to the large blue/purple one in your video. I've been using a similar technique, but only for an hour or so - I'll make sure to try soaking longer! My biggest issue is that it is bare rooted, and I'm always afraid of damaging roots when I lower the whole thing into a bucket. Do you think adding a basket would be a good idea? I would also like it to be more stable while in the bucket, so it doesn't have to rely on resting against the wall, and I think a basket would help with that too. It may be a bit of a logistical nightmare to get it into a basket, as the roots are nearly a meter by themselves, but possibly worth it in the long run! :)
Hi Peter, I appreciate the baskets for protecting the roots, holding some water and for the fact that the Vandas can stand on their own and don't have to drip dry hanging. Soak the roots really well if you choose to put it in a basket, remove all dead or not so nice looking roots (better safe than mushy roots after a couple of weeks) and try to place the Vanda in the basket with a carefully twisting motion. Good luck and happy growing! :)
@@bumblebeesorchids3408 Many thanks for your reply! It sounds like a basket will be a good idea. I will try to find one big enough as the roots are huge! Thanks again! :)
Your accent is amazing! 😍
Well... thanks. 🙈😅
Hi Miss Bee ! I find this method very interesting. Don't know if you have stated in previous videos in what part of the world you live in, but my concern is that since I live in Canada, would my cool nights be a problem with soaking overnight ? Thanks for any feedback, keep up the good work !
Hi Diana, thank you. :) I live in Europe and I have an interior bathroom with winter night temperatures of about 15-17°C. Cooler temperatures might be an issue, it's hard to tell where's the line. Maybe if you start experimenting in spring/early summer and/or try to water on sunny days when the sun is warming up the bathroom a bit - in case your bathroom does have windows. :)
Wow!! Very nice 👍
Thank you, Veronica! :)
That was well done
Thank you, Glen! :D
I recently got 2 Vandas. A purple large blooms and a mustard yellow which has smaller flowers. Need advice on watering when I am away on holiday for 2 weeks or longer. I was told to water them as soon as the roots appear white.
Would appreciate your feedback. Thank you. Best wishes 🇨🇭🎄🎅
Hi Luxmi, if I would water my Vandas every time the roots appear white I'd do nothing else. After watering the roots are green for a few hours and silvery for the rest of the week, but that doesn’t mean they need water again. In case your Vanda is healthy and has a very good root system you could soak it until saturation (about 24h). Most probably it will show signs of dehydration after two weeks, but won't suffer too much. You could put it in a vase with some water in it so that it can drink a couple of days. But be careful in case of low temperatures.
@@bumblebeesorchids3408
Thank you for the tips. They have been a great help. Your root system is very healthy I had to cut off all the thin stringy black ones. Hope my Vandas will one day have roots like yours.
Wish you a wonderful festive season🎅🎄🇨🇭🥳.
Ps. Where can I acquire the wooden baskets that you use. I live in central Europe.
Awesome information! Thank you!
I'm glad you liked the video, happy growing! :)
What's the namesof the pink one at 1:37 and the burgundy one at 3:37?
hi, my vandas have black spots what should i do? and how do i get them to flower?
Hi Dilshan, you should try to identify the cause of the black spots and try to provide best possible conditions concerning light, water quality, temperatures, humidity and so on. On Vandas (and Oncidiums) a disease called Phyllosticta is quite common. It's a fungal infection that leads to small black spotting, but usually doesn't kill a plant. Maybe you can find the cause of the black spot on this website: staugorchidsociety.org
Happy growing!
I think that I heard The Orchid Whisperer (Amy) uses a copper fungicide spray a couple of times a month(on cattleya's, also) to control any black spot and even as a preventative, especially during growing season. Maybe that would help, but keep it away from all dendrobiums. They don't like copper.
I apologize in advance if you have mentioned this (and I just didn't notice), but what level of humidity do you maintain in your home? I feel as if I should supplement the humidity. In the winter here, the humidity can get very very low. Thanks.
No need to apologise, I don't remember if I mentioned it anytime. :) My humidity levels range between 50 and 70% depending on the season and the weather.
Bumblebee's Orchids Thanks!
Hi. Just picked up your channel. Fantastic Vandas beautifully grown. Thankyou for the info.
Ed
Hi Ed, sorry for the late reply. Thanks for stopping by and happy growing! :)
Very very nice
Thank you! Happy growing!
Great video, thank you!
Thank you, Anna! :) Happy growing!
Bonsoir avez-vous vendez des mokara ou Vanda merci 'ou vous achetez ou? merci
Bonjour Tân-Vinh et merci beaucoup; j'achète sur ebay ou Schwerter Orchideenzucht. Tous mes vœux!
Beautiful
Thank you! :)
Beautiful ..
Thank you! :)
Which area are you in and what's the humidity and temperature at your area?
My plants are grown at a South facing windowsill in Central Europe. We have 4 Seasons (dry&hot summers, wet&cool winters). Temperatures: Mostly 17-27°C/63-81°F; Humidity: 50-70%
Now, I must find a vanda
Haha, go for it! :D
What is this vanda at 1:41? It's beautiful
It’s Memoria Holland Tan. :)
I Love your vanda
Thank you, Betet! :)
5 straight minutes of “it depends”
I see you got my point.
BRAVO!!!!
Thank you! :) Happy growing!
Beautiful plants new friend Ruthie
Thank you, Ruthie! :)
What grow zone are you?
It should be 6 or 7, marine/west coast or cool/temperate with wet winters and summers (sometimes hot, though). :)
hi , how do you feed your vanda ? Thank you.
I don't have a strict fertilising routine, I just use different types of fertiliser.
oops...are fine
love your video, i plan to buy my first vanda orchid this spring, however, my home is very dry any suggestion as to how to prepare my grow space for this type of orchid? Thanks
Spring is the perfect time for buying a Vanda. :) So you are growing on a windowsill, too? Do you happen to know your humidity levels?
Hi do you have orchid nursery
No, I have windowsills. Take care!
12k like such a great video
Thank you! :D Happy growing!
WoW!
:D
I took the poor road and put my vanda in a goldfish bowl XD
Noo, good job! I think putting a goldfish in that bowl would have been the poor road. :D Many Vandas do very well in vases or bowls, I'll keep my fingers crossed. Happy growing!
Bumblebee thanks, its all I had that was big and sturdy enough
😳👍🏻❤️👀
:D Thank you, Marcelo! Happy growing!
Woo saya tidak mengerti
Sorry, I don't understand you.
Your English is better than my Indonesian. 😉