My Vanda decided that she wants to loose her flowers early!
 

Errrrrrrrrrrrr!

It just doesn't seem to work now! My Vanda Blue Magic that I just received as a gift a week and a half ago has decided that she wants to loose her beauty at a very young age! She had 7 blooms and now there is only 3 of them left intact! Grrrrrrrrr! Why me?!

This is what I do:
I bathe it twice a day for half an hour because unfortunately under all my windows there is a heater and I have two desert lizards at home so we must keep the heatind on until June, than I hang it at my west facing window (the window that receives the most sun), and I spray it 2 to 3 times a day... Sometimes, when it is sunny and the temperature rises to 10C (50F) or more, I hang it outside... What am I doing wrong?? Could it be the heating system?? Should I bathe it more often? Or is it because I bathe it to much??? Or is it to much of a shock for her to be brought from a warm inside temperature to an colder outside temperature??
What could it be??

Barb needs help! HELP!

Thank you!!!



Barb
:violin: :bua:

I think its cause you're moving it around too much within a period of a week-and-a-half. Grow in one location, see if that will prevent the other buds from dropping. If not there's always next year.

Honestly, I know some people here prefer the bathing method of watering their Vandas, but I'd like to propose a much more simplified solution. Growing your Vanda potted in a semi-hydroponic medium.

At first, I didn't realize what semi-hydroponic meant until I started looking up the medium people on this board were talking about.

I grow all my Vandas semi-hydroponically using diatomite as a medium (specifically Aussie Gold). Saves the trouble of bathing for 1/2 an hour and saves water. I personally don't have the time or the patience to bathe all my Vandas. Growing in diatomite can be tricky to start off with, but once you get the hang of it, this is the simplest solution to watering your Vandas adequately.

Diatomite doesn't compact, doesn't decompose, and is highly porous so it retains alot of water.

Well, I ironicaly decided to switch for semi-hydroponic actualy and initiate all my orchids to it... I ordered the PrimeAgra coarse grain though... it seemed like one of the most suggested types to use and the most popular... I heard though, about puting the vanda into a vase well adapted for it's size might be an awesome method too...

Thanks for your advice!!!!

Barb:waving

Hi Barb...did you get the plant in bloom? If so, it could have been blooming for a while and it's just time for it to lose it's blooms. It might not be anything you've done ;)

i think that the move to the outside might be too much of a schock. at least not till it warms up a bit more. and it has to be intrduced slowly to get aclimatized.
i don,t have any vanda,s myself (yet) but flowerdrop often happen after a severe temp drop.

It's only been a week and a half, c'mon, give a plant time to adjust :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

It's just come from greenhouse (or store) conditions, and your home will have different conditions. I've had enough success with the bathing and misting method that I wouldn't bother with SH, but even then, my Robert's delight blasted it's buds after I brought it home. Just wait till the next budding season... which... could possibly be later this year, if it's the type to bloom more than once a year. :biggrin:

Also.... I know you're in BC and all, and you guys tend to get nicer temps than us inlanders... but I wouldn't -dare- put my vandas outside until I know temps won't drop below 15 degrees at night. I know they can manage down to 10, but growers I've spoken to agree.... it's not a happy place for vandas ;)

:goodluck: with the SH. Another method guys do in Ontario is to put the whole basket and roots in a clay pot with something that will hold lots of water (not moss!). I think something with perlite in it. Then you only have to water once a week. Lots of people have success that way.

Hey! Thank's Shams,

That is very cool advice! He! He! He! Ya, I got a little overwelmed by the plant and wanted to give it a lot of attention and make it perfect... often that is a method that ends in disaster for plants... and for humans! He! He! ;)

To be quiet honest though, all the advice I've got so far is quiet helpful! Thank you all!!!
It is awesome! Thumbs up for everyone!:Tup: ;)

By the way, Shams, I've been trying to get a hold of my brother, to figure out the name of the boutique where he got me the Vanda. He actualy knows the owner, it shouldn't be to much trouble finding it! The trouble is just reaching my brother! ;) Tsk! Tsk!

Thank you a million times!!!

Oh wow! really? That's awsome! Thanks orchidee! :bowing

Hey Shams!

Good news! Here is the adress:

Flowers By Nan, West Vancouver Flower Shop, specializing in orchids and custom arrangements for all ocassions

I hope you'll find what you are looking for!

Cheers!
:goodluck: