Vandas in a Bucket - Orchid Board

AaronM · #1 05-28-2008, 12:45 AM

Hello all. I have a NOID Vanda that I am rehabbing which has long roots hanging about two feet down from the base of the plant. Even with twice a day thorough mistings it still seems to be recovering slowly from a winter spent outdoors here in frigid Orlando, FL.
My question is this. Can I allow the roots to grow into a small bucket of water so that the plant will have a constant supply of water?
I heard a quote in another post along these lines "If you place the roots of an orchid in a puddle of water they will rot, but if you allow the roots to grow into the puddle they will do just fine." How true is this statement as it pertains to my Vanda?

Thanks.

AaronM

kavanaru · #2 05-28-2008, 02:14 AM

I am growing my Vanda Blue Magic in a S/H bucket filled with EpiWeb instead of LECA. I tried first bareroots, and could not manage to give it enough water. Then I tried S/H (as some said they good luck with S/H and Vandas) but almost killed it. Then I decided to try the EpiWeb version... it is in there since February and is doingfine so far: 5 new leaves and several new roots! I water it once a week like normal S/H... let's see if I manage to get it to re-bloom!!

Buds! · #3 05-28-2008, 04:43 AM

Hi Aaron,
I am no vanda expert. Here's my story:

I had a Vanda Suksamram Beauty in a plastic bucket, one long root grew into the puddle of water that I left behind for humidity. That particular root continued to grow in water (approx. 8mm) for a few months and it seemed very happy.

However, last week I moved the vanda out of the bucket because the other roots were not getting enought water.
It is now a basket with some sphag and diatomite.

My Princess Mikasa Blue is showing new root growth and a new leaf in a vase after 10days! I water it once every morning (it is autumn here).

I have a love and hate relationship with my vandas, they just drive me crazy!

cb977 · #4 05-28-2008, 07:33 AM

Most of my vandas are too large to fit into any kind of container but I was very interested in trying the "vanda in a vase" idea so...

I experimented with my Trichoglottis brachiata which is a small plant right now, mounted on a piece of tree fern. I used a vase with a large opening and a smaller neck so the plant "sits" there...with it's longer roots dangling a few inches into the water. Within two weeks, the parts of the roots which sit submerged in water have grown LOADS of new roots! I'm simply amazed at the growth!!!

Don't be afraid to experiment once in a while...it's how we learn. Give your idea a try, making sure to keep an eye on it. You'll be able to tell in a short amount of time whether the chid is happy about the arrangements or not. If it's not, then you can try something else

AaronM · #5 05-28-2008, 09:20 AM

I think some of you are misunderstanding what I want to do. I don't intend to place the Vanda into any type of container I simply want to place a container of water beneath the roots and let them grow down into it. The plant in question is currently bare root in a basket outside and has several newly growing tips. I just want a little brake from the worries of twice daily watering.

Thanks
AaronM

cb977 · #6 05-28-2008, 12:35 PM

LOL...that is exactly what I've done, as described above.

The mount is sitting in the neck of the vases so it can stay above the water level...but...the roots love it so much, they crawled down into the water, decided to stay there and produce mega-new-roots

I'd say...go for it!

Weebl · #7 05-28-2008, 12:53 PM

I've heard of growers in tropical regions having vandas mounted over ponds and having the roots grow right into the water where their koi naturally gave them all the fertilizer and CO2 the roots needed.

That epi-web and resevoir idea I like a lot, similar to the vase culture but capable of housing much larger vandas without worry of having the vanda break the glass at some point