Vanda - Snail Attack!

[Maxx]

Hi Everybody!

I have purchased a NoID Vanda from a garden centre in March this year as an overblown rescue orchid (based on the last shriveled flower it had at that time, it is of pink colour), and was very happy that it really recovered very fast in my care (indoors, daily soaking), shooting out new roots like hell, and even started to grow a new flower spike by the end of June.

Unfortunately due to our holidays abroad I had to move it to my mother's garden so she can water it daily (otherwise it might have not survived the one week in our hot apartment), and once we got back it seems a snail (that bastard!) had a good lunch on it!

Picture

I guess this spike is gone, or is there any hope for recovery? If I cut off the spike, will I encourage the vanda to grow a new one more faster, or is this blooming cycle gone for me and I have to wait again several months?

Thanks all!

[jcec1]

If the plant is healthy and a decent size, I reckon you will get a replace within weeks. Sometimes mine just decide to abort a spike for no reason, but there is quickly a replacement.

[Carebear2]

that is very unfortunate.

A vanda generally flowers once a year, sometimes twice if well cared for.

The problem is that the plant only produces so many new leaves in a year and flower spikes grow out between the old leaves, if it has no places to grow a new spike then it won't grow another one till it has grown new leaves and thus more leaf axils for flower spikes to emerge.

If you are lucky it will produce a new spike on the opposite leaf axil.

[Maxx]

Fortunately there still enough leaf axils left opposite and above this one (about 4-5) so it has room to produce one.

What do you think, should I cut this damaged one, or wait until it dries up?

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Maxx

Fortunately there still enough leaf axils left opposite and above this one (about 4-5) so it has room to produce one.

What do you think, should I cut this damaged one, or wait until it dries up?

I'd wait awhile, just out of curiousity, to see how damaged it is. Won't hurt to wait a bit.

[Ray]

I’d leave it alone. I think the prior comments about waiting for a new spike, when- and wherever that may be, is probably the case, but you never know! A healthy plant receiving good culture can surprise you.

[Maxx]

Originally Posted by jcec1

If the plant is healthy and a decent size, I reckon you will get a replace within weeks. Sometimes mine just decide to abort a spike for no reason, but there is quickly a replacement.

You were right! After one month I got a replacement spike with such wonderful blooms!

Picture

[Roberta]

That is a beauty!