[B]Vanda with dry/shriveled roots - watering problems? -in need of advice[/B]

[XMaraX]

I'm new to vandas, in fact I bought my first one 2 months ago and kept reasearching what were the best ways to water it properly. I put it in a vase and kept watering it every 4-5 days (like filling the vase and the emptying it after 20-30 minutes).
It looked happy at first but then I noticed that her roots turned brown and had begun to rot. I removed her from the vase and saw that she still had some green roots although most of them are brown ( I cut the rotting ones off as they were quite damaged) and also seems very dry when I touch them, however I am afraid to water the flower now as I do not know how to do so properly and I also believe that overwatering caused it to rot (which is why I mainly don't want to water it now). The leaves are in good condition though and the stem is ferm.

I need suggestion with what I should do next.
Help?

Here are some pictures to see what I mean:

[Gage]

Where have you kept the vase setup? How much light has it been getting? Vandas like a LOT of light in general, and if it is in a dimly lit or too cool location, that can also make it difficult for the roots to dry quickly enough. I have some vanda seedlings in an east windowsill, and I water them daily with no problem. I think the key is lots of light and roots dry quickly. Anybody else wanna take a shot?

[Chris147]

I to had that problem with my first vanda. Unfortunately it died after about two months, but that does not mean yours will die. I made the mistake of prying the roots off of a small basket in order to put it in a 6 inch basket. The roots died about a week later. I would spray the entire plant with superthrive and even soak the roots in it. The directions are on the back of the package it comes attached on. I would also reccomend either putting it in a pot or basket, securing it so that it does not move. A plant that moves around will not establish itself and will cause a lot of stress. I water my vandas everyday about 4 times a day. I do not have a greenhouse, so they hang in my room, but I take them outside everyday. I water them whenever the pot/basket is dry. When you water, water/mist the leaves because since the plant doesn't have many roots the plant will lose water through its leaves. I would also reccomend buying some worm tea. That stuff works miracles. I use it on all of my plants once a week and all of them have new roots and leaves. It smells horrible, but it works. Anyways, hope this helped, and I'm sure that others will add to this or chime in. Hope the plant survives.

[XMaraX]

Originally Posted by Gage

Where have you kept the vase setup? How much light has it been getting? Vandas like a LOT of light in general, and if it is in a dimly lit or too cool location, that can also make it difficult for the roots to dry quickly enough. I have some vanda seedlings in an east windowsill, and I water them daily with no problem. I think the key is lots of light and roots dry quickly. Anybody else wanna take a shot?

I just keep them near my window as I don't have a greenhouse so it does have a lot of light....

[XMaraX]

Originally Posted by Chris147

I to had that problem with my first vanda. Unfortunately it died after about two months, but that does not mean yours will die. I made the mistake of prying the roots off of a small basket in order to put it in a 6 inch basket. The roots died about a week later. I would spray the entire plant with superthrive and even soak the roots in it. The directions are on the back of the package it comes attached on. I would also reccomend either putting it in a pot or basket, securing it so that it does not move. A plant that moves around will not establish itself and will cause a lot of stress. I water my vandas everyday about 4 times a day. I do not have a greenhouse, so they hang in my room, but I take them outside everyday. I water them whenever the pot/basket is dry. When you water, water/mist the leaves because since the plant doesn't have many roots the plant will lose water through its leaves. I would also reccomend buying some worm tea. That stuff works miracles. I use it on all of my plants once a week and all of them have new roots and leaves. It smells horrible, but it works. Anyways, hope this helped, and I'm sure that others will add to this or chime in. Hope the plant survives.

I just have one question about this: would a normal plant pot do? Or do I have to put it in a vase?

[Chris147]

Yes. I would put it in a normal pot. When I got my vanda It was in a 4" pot with roots growing over the edges and out of every hole. I recently moved it to a 6" basket which it seems to like.

[fishmommy]

the only foolproof way I have found to keep my vanda roots healthy is to grow them bare-root (hang them from a wire in the open air) or in baskets with no media. Soak every day for at least 5 minutes.
Some people do grow them in pots or vases but in those situations root rot is possible if conditions are not spot on. More light and warmth may help if you want to keep trying with the vase method.