Vanda, am I sick or unhappy - Orchid Board

luckygrower · #1 08-19-2007, 02:28 PM

The photos are of a Vanda that I have had for 3 or 4 years, (the name on the tag is Pakchong blue),that is all I know about it, it has bloomed each year but the plant looks like it is sick or unhappy and the quality of the flowers is declining, the plant hangs outside, from my aviary, all year long, winter or summer,in full sun. I water it every other day and fertilize it twice a month I welcome all the help I can get. Is it sick or am I doing something wrong? The first photo's were taken in July in bud, the second photo's 2 days ago after they opened.

flhiker · #2 08-19-2007, 02:44 PM

Looks like the birds are chewing on the leaves, I have two vandas and I water every day I understand that they like lots of water and food. you might what to move them from the birds and water every day and fertilize at 25% once a week. If any expert thinks this is not good please chime in

LILROCORCHIDS · #3 08-19-2007, 05:27 PM

Hi ! Something is wrong have you changed the media since you got it , maybe the bark isn't good anymore . Also it is hard to tell from photo but could it have scale ? The plant looks like it has healthy new roots so I would remove spike and enjoy in a vase . Then remove all old bark and rotted roots with a sterile blade . Sit plant a little lower in mix and move to a spot where it will get only morning sun or hang in a tree giving it dappled sun. once you see the plant has revived you can increase the sun gradually. when bark dries water well and like dave said fertilize once a week . Hope this helps .

Rocco

luckygrower · #4 08-19-2007, 07:28 PM

Thanks for the response's, it does not have scale as I know what that looks like but it might have mites or something else, no I have not changed the media, I didn't think about it as the media still looks good on top.
I'm going to change the media,water more often,give it a little more fertilizer, and change the location to a shadier area and hope for the best, do Vandas prefer a certain formula of fertilizer?

flhiker · #5 08-19-2007, 11:03 PM

I don't think there are special fertilizer for vanda's but the one I use is First Rays liquid orchid fertilizer for pure water ( RO water,Distilled or Rain water) at about 50 ppm is equal to 1-1/3 tsp per gallon water.

CodiMN · #6 08-23-2007, 01:29 AM

Vandas love water! Make sure you water every day until the roots turn green. Many vandas prefer to grow bare root in their hanging baskets without any medium, or very little (just enough to keep some moisture or to stabilize the plant from tipping over).

Since the quality of the bloom is what you're concerned about, you may consider increasing your fertilizing and changing out the media.

Could you take a

of the media/roots and any roots that hang outside the basket? Root condition is good to check as well.

Keep posting, and checking this orchid board forum, there are lots of helpful people that have had similar situations that may be able to chime in a little bit later.

luckygrower · #7 08-24-2007, 11:18 PM

Well I repotted it today, but I forgot to take pictures, there was some nice fat white roots and some root rot, so I cut off the bad roots and repotted in the basket with coarse orchid bark and hung it under the eve to give it some shade, so lets see how it does, thanks for all the info. Mike

starwhiz · #8 08-25-2007, 12:43 AM

THere was someone who wrote about not disturbing vanda's root system...So, repotting vanda is different from repotting other orchids.

Leisurely · #9 08-25-2007, 06:10 PM

Vandas are heavy feeders. You might want to consider increasing your fertilizer application to full strength and apply weekly. I dunk my vandas in a tub of 1/4 strength fertilizer every other day and they seem to love it. This might also work for you since you said you watered every other day.

Charles · #10 08-25-2007, 10:44 PM

Soak it at 25% once a week and wet thoroughly each day with a hose (be gentle but soak it).

How hot is it during the day? I use large bark as a moisture holder since I live in Fl and it is hot. It should dry out before dark, so don't water after 3pm.

It looks like it's growth has been stunted as well. The straps on mine are much farther apart up the center. And what the heck has been eating it?

Winter is no good for these. Don't get below 50 degrees F.

SUN SUN SUN. Bright, long and shining sun. I use 50% shade cloth for Florida sun. About four hours a day of direct (through shade cloth) and about four more through filtered trees.

Breeze. It helps it dry out between watering and help respiration.

The basics.
PS. My avitar is my Pachong Blue. Bloomed three times this summer.