Vanda root problems - Page 2 - Orchid Board

KingKong · #11 04-28-2020, 08:13 PM

Lovely plants there coconut, looks like you have a nice climate for growing them.

I just want to point out the dead root stuck to one of the leaves that is rotting away on soflaorchid's pic.

It's like the 4th from last pic. Either peel off the dead root or snip off the leaf completely. The leaf is starting to turn black and it could spread.

Otherwise I will second the vase method. I spray my roots every day, leaving a tiny puddle for my vanda's to drink at the bottom of the vase during the day and then they dry out overnight. It provides better humidity around the roots but still enough ventilation so your roots won't dry out as fast. A full water culture will not work. If roots still dry out too fast use moss or what I do, cotton wick which doesn't rot

Ray · #12 04-29-2020, 08:18 AM

For south Florida, I think that vase culture is inappropriate.

Most vandas thrive in hot, humid conditions, and that locale really favors that! I think baskets with a fast-drying medium (if any) and lots of watering would be best.

The roots are certainly not happy with their current culture.

As far as that fertilizer is concerned, I’d not use it at all until you see some healthy root tips emerge. Then, I’d use no more than 1/2 teaspoon/gallon, no more than once per week.

The probiotic (also sold as Quantum-Total for a lot less $) may be used at anywhere from 1 tablespoon per gallon to 2 ounces per gallon. The manufacturer recommends applying it ever 2-3 weeks. I use one ounce per gallon, once a month.

If you really want to kick-start the root growth, try KelpMax at a tablespoon per gallon for a couple of weeks. I normally recommend monthly application for that, but more for a short time accelerates the response with no negatives.

SoFlaOrchids · #13 04-29-2020, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

hard to say...a few are mine from a store, purchased mature, one from whole foods and two from Bhan Jong down in the Redlands.
I was gifted the two on the left from a friend as large plants and shes a LONG time grower so they could be 5-20 years old. i have no idea as they grow at such different speeds depending on culture.

the semi terete ones are all ancient, literally older than i am. A person who i used to talk about plants with a lot had a tree in the front yard that her grant father had planted and put an orchid on...she used to estimate that she had taken over 45 keikis off and sold them over just her lifetime and that was learned from her mom.
anyways, she was moving and was scared that the new owner wouldn't appreciate the plant or worse would kill it so she sold it to me for $20...more of a token than a sale.

We removed 30 + feet of vanda with the longest contiguous piece at 12 feet. I have it EVERYWHERE lol.

The ones on the east side of the house (shaded picture) are from a different rescue situation and they are a mix of semi terete and strap leaf..the really fun thing there is a few of those had tags in the dirt around them so i have a chance of a long lost ID (their previous owner fell into bad shape (old age) and his shadehouse had dilapidated with neglect...i was turned on to the situation by a friend with an estate liquidation business and i did a lot of cleaning and rescuing that day too)

I also a few mounted on clay jugs that i think are from home depot bag babies

Omg 45 keikis? WOW that is an amazing story and 30+ feet

All of my Vandas are from Lowes and Home depot and one is a seedling from an Etsy seller.
I wish I could get my hands on older ones that are in the blooming stage already.
Well, I actually bought a Pakchong blue the other day and it has a cut old spike so let's see when it blooms again.
Do they bloom multiple times a year?

epiphyteFinish · #14 05-01-2020, 11:15 PM

I have used the same fertilizer from Repotme and Orchid Quantum. Same issue with the roots on my vanda...plus others. I’m highly upset because I have a suspicion it is root burn.

DirtyCoconuts · #15 05-02-2020, 09:37 AM

SoFla- it is a pretty huge group but i have seem several in our neck of the woods that bloom year round...it is a pretty favorable climate for them here

SoFlaOrchids · #16 05-07-2020, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingKong

Lovely plants there coconut, looks like you have a nice climate for growing them.

I just want to point out the dead root stuck to one of the leaves that is rotting away on soflaorchid's pic.

It's like the 4th from last pic. Either peel off the dead root or snip off the leaf completely. The leaf is starting to turn black and it could spread.

Otherwise I will second the vase method. I spray my roots every day, leaving a tiny puddle for my vanda's to drink at the bottom of the vase during the day and then they dry out overnight. It provides better humidity around the roots but still enough ventilation so your roots won't dry out as fast. A full water culture will not work. If roots still dry out too fast use moss or what I do, cotton wick which doesn't rot

Hi there. The root was not really dead, it looks bad but it's still "viable" The black spot in the leaf might been from when I had it in my tree and it might have been burnt a little but I did remove it.
She finally showed me that she's loving all the TLC she's getting and it looks like I'm finally getting a fresh new root!!! So exciting (See Picture)

Ray: I don't really like the water culture and I agree that is not appropriate for my zone so I got the wood baskets and put some moss in it since they barely have roots and I have been watering them twice a day since it's super hot and they dry so quickly.

There's this brand on amazon for the kelp. What do you think?
Robot Check

I have relocated some of my Phals under my avocado tree.

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips

First picture is the new root and the rest is how I have them all now, including my little baby