vanda tesselata dropping leaves

[nikkik]

I have had the same thing happen to some of my vandas, much like you I have grown and flowered many vandas in my environment. After a lot of observation, I have noticed that my vandas that come from certain vendors or parts of the country seem to succumb to the leaf drop that you describe.

I had a tessellata that was imported it quickly lost most of its leaves and died; I believe that plant had a fungus because it was a 2 foot plant that succumbed in month. I believe the environmental change helped to hasten the rate of the fungus. I have since replaced it with two plants from Hawaii (different color forms), one is an adult and one a very young seedling both have been thriving in the same type of environment as the one I previously had.

I have had a ton of success with vandas from vendors in the Northeast, Midwest, Southern California and Hawaii. I have found that some of the vendors that import vandas from Asia and resell quickly don't stand the test of time (at least for me), possibly because there are so many environmental differences and the stress of travel that it weakens the plant beyond recovery, especially if there was any disease that was previously kept at bay because the plant was grown in optimal conditions.

I know many may disagree with my thoughts on this, but is just my observation about my collection and growing environment. And I thought I would share my experience with you because I would become quite frustrated when my vandas were loosing leaves without any obvious reason, especially when the vandas that require the same environment next to them are thriving.

I wish you much luck in saving your plant and wish I had a cure for the leaf drop.

[Leafmite]

Good luck. I hope you can save it.

[bil]

Originally Posted by judith_arquette

Have you tried vase culture? I got my only vanda (an ustii) in the spring and it sat doing nothing for the longest time until it too started dropping leaves. I Lost the bottom 3 before I decided to try vase culture about 2 months ago. It did nothing for the first month but now has a tiny new root developing and so far it hasn't dropped any more leaves. Good luck!

I did try vase culture, but the way the roots are growing, I'd need to get an 18 inch Diam vase, and that's just not on. The roots simply wouldn't cooperate.

---------- Post added at 12:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 PM ----------

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

They do much better in the greenhouse. Even spanish moss grow on them.. I love moss!!!

Yeah, mine have Spanish moss twisted round the roots. So far it's doing well.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

if your moss is drying out over night then your humidity is WAY too low. I have moss on all my vandas bec they were drying out too fast. Not potted in moss just a moss topcoat to keep the top fresh. Indoors I never had luck with the vanda types. Was not sunny ,hot humid and stikky enough for them IMO.

But good luck on your endeavor to grow these under lights.



They do much better in the greenhouse. Even spanish moss grow on them.. I love moss!!!

Spanish moss isn't actually a a moss, but it does like to grow with orchids.

---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 PM ----------

Originally Posted by hanzy08

Hello guys! I need help in figuring out the cause of my near blooming size vanda dropping it's leaves. I purchased this spring of this year and I have it under 4x2' HO t5's. It is growing along side my other vandas and this is the only one showing this much stress. One leaf would drop once a week but the past two weeks had been worse dropping three leaves...
[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

Could you be over watering it? I mist mine daily but only water when it is dry. I have grown vandas with moss in the basket and it does help to keep them from drying too much. You could always try vase culture to see if it helps. I only water once a week with vase culture and mist the rest of the time. See if you can fit the basket into the top of a vase.

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by nikkik

I have had the same thing happen to some of my vandas, much like you I have grown and flowered many vandas in my environment. After a lot of observation, I have noticed that my vandas that come from certain vendors or parts of the country seem to succumb to the leaf drop that you describe.

I had a tessellata that was imported it quickly lost most of its leaves and died; I believe that plant had a fungus because it was a 2 foot plant that succumbed in month. I believe the environmental change helped to hasten the rate of the fungus. I have since replaced it with two plants from Hawaii (different color forms), one is an adult and one a very young seedling both have been thriving in the same type of environment as the one I previously had.

I have had a ton of success with vandas from vendors in the Northeast, Midwest, Southern California and Hawaii. I have found that some of the vendors that import vandas from Asia and resell quickly don't stand the test of time (at least for me), possibly because there are so many environmental differences and the stress of travel that it weakens the plant beyond recovery, especially if there was any disease that was previously kept at bay because the plant was grown in optimal conditions.

I know many may disagree with my thoughts on this, but is just my observation about my collection and growing environment. And I thought I would share my experience with you because I would become quite frustrated when my vandas were loosing leaves without any obvious reason, especially when the vandas that require the same environment next to them are thriving.

I wish you much luck in saving your plant and wish I had a cure for the leaf drop.

I think you have a point. I bought this plant form abita orchids in ebay and they are located in Louisiana. My big vandas can tolerate shortcomings and this being a young plant probably is unforgiving due to the environment changes that it went through.. I really wish this survives cause I can't wait to see the blooms. It is a black x blue and should be fragrant!

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Good luck. I hope you can save it.

thanks! I do hope so too!!

---------- Post added at 10:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:15 PM ----------

Originally Posted by bil

I did try vase culture, but the way the roots are growing, I'd need to get an 18 inch Diam vase, and that's just not on. The roots simply wouldn't cooperate.

---------- Post added at 12:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 PM ----------



Yeah, mine have Spanish moss twisted round the roots. So far it's doing well.

I was thinking of potting it up in bark. I added a humidifier around it to see if it is a humidity issue. This is a big deal for me cause I haven't had a plant die on me. Some are stubborn bloomers and still trying to get around it but they grow fine. This on the other hand is going downhill quite fast...

[Vanda lover]

Potting it up may work, but I would use lava rock. It is very difficult to over water with lava rock and it is cheap and usually easy to find. You vanda doesn't look very big. You could try a vase until it outgrows it.

[bil]

Originally Posted by hanzy08

I was thinking of potting it up in bark. I added a humidifier around it to see if it is a humidity issue. This is a big deal for me cause I haven't had a plant die on me. Some are stubborn bloomers and still trying to get around it but they grow fine. This on the other hand is going downhill quite fast...

If you have so far done well and not had a plant die, then this one may not be down to you. In your shoes I would worry in case it had soomething contagious, and isolate it from the others.

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by bil

If you have so far done well and not had a plant die, then this one may not be down to you. In your shoes I would worry in case it had soomething contagious, and isolate it from the others.

Will consider that. Thanks!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Might be too wet.

Remove moss. Use large grade bark. Cut back on water. Let the roots breathe. If the roots are shriveling and dying, then increase water. If not, then there's no need to keep watering the orchid.

The root tips on your plant is suggesting the start of some root damage, probably from getting them too wet.

If the air's stale, get it moving.

Temperature that you have in your growing area should not be an issue with Vanda tessellata. They grow well in intermediate temperatures.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Might be too wet.

Remove moss. Use large grade bark. Cut back on water. Let the roots breathe. If the roots are shriveling and dying, then increase water. If not, then there's no need to keep watering the orchid.

The root tips on your plant is suggesting the start of some root damage, probably from getting them too wet.

If the air's stale, get it moving.

Temperature that you have in your growing area should not be an issue with Vanda tessellata. They grow well in intermediate temperatures.

I agree. I once had a vandaceous orchid that lost it's leaves the same way. When I figured out that I was over watering, it was too late and I lost it.