Hi, I'm new to Vanda growing so I'd like some help so I don't accidentally kill off my new Vandas.
I bought a Vanda Kultana Gold x Kulatana Scarlet NO.88 about two weeks ago and when I got it, it had some blackish-brown roots and some new green roots. I did not cut away the black roots as it is growing a new flower spike and the roots weren't soft like rotten Phal roots so I left them. You can see picture #3 in here:
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I put it into a clear plastic jug and I fill up the jug once a day with water that's filtered because I read that regular tap water has too many salts which can build up on the roots causing them to burn. I let the Vanda soak for an hour in the filtered water before I empty the water. Every Saturday I fill the jug with
this seaweed extract (one cap full) and fertilizer (a 20-20-20 mix diluted in filtered water) and let it soak for an hour and then pour out the fertilizer water.
Last week I noticed it's roots were dry so I rinsed and added a few large LECA (clay) pebbles in the basket. Today when I checked it, the whole initial part of the big new root was turning brown and shriveled up! See picture in above link.
What is causing this? The roots in the water as you can see in pic #2 are doing ok, but the root at the surface is turning brown. Is it the LECA pebbles? Or is it the fact that that's where the edge of the water usually is? So maybe salts build up there? Or is it because the fertilizer is too strong? But if so, why aren't the roots inside burning too?
I also got a Vascostylis Sasicha "Blue" X Pine River "Blue" about a month and a half ago. This was my 1st Vanda but it has been more robust than the Kultana. I'm so shocked at how sensitive the Kultana is. For one month I left it hanging and followed the same water and fertilization scheduling I mentioned above (during which it would be in a pot). I tried potting it in a clear jug like the Kultana but the roots started turning brown so I just leave it hanging. It hasn't done anything but continue to grow leaves. How do I get it to grow new roots?
Vanda Roots Browning
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