Vandas in Glass Vases

[Edward Brookes]

I'm really sold on the vase idea, for phals it works well, but I have only been doing it for 5 months, so no flowers yet. The roots & new leaves look very healthy. I put my first vanda into a tall vase a few days ago (Sansai blue) it was unhappy in the garden, seldom bloomed, so I am hoping for the best with this trial. I also want to try a phrag - does anybody have any info on them as vase subjects?

[Vanda lover]

Phrags like a lot of moisture so I have never thought of trying them. this method has mainly been used for plants that like to dry out slightly but like high humidity. I have been wondering about tolumnia. I have a friend who has tried a phal with some success, so I guess you just have to try it.

[l1sav]

Originally Posted by telipogon

As I do not own a greenhouse, I thought i would share with you guys the methods i employ to grow Vandas...................

Vase culture does seem to be succeeding for me under my conditions. I have upwards of 70 Vandacious orchids growing in a variety of assorted vases (i guess jam jars would work well for some species but i'm too much of a snob to do that !).

My window faces roughly southeast and gets a LOT of sunshine, especially on summer mornings. For this reason the 'classic' culture for Vandas (bare root and contstant spraying) would have resulted in a repetative strain injury for me and a barely damp enough plant. There is no shading on the window and the plants get the maximum amount of sun possible (referring to Vandas here, of course), along with what can be extremely warm temperatures.

I decided to attempt to grow Vandas in vases after obtaining a large Vanda from Burnham Nurseries about 3 years ago (V. Kasem's Delight x Pompimol). I was not expecting the plant to be as large as it is, so i started to realise that i needed to act so as to not allow the plant to dessicate. I bought a vase from my local garden center (the shape of the vase is important, i will come to this shortly), and simply allowed the black slatted basket that Vandas often come in to sit in the neck of the vase with the roots dangling inside. No moss, no pebbles, nothing. Within about three weeks, the root tips of the Vanda had re-activated and started to grow. During the spring just gone, a lot more root tips branched out from the roots the plant already had, and has now flowered twice for me. It is also growing much bigger leaves now and is looking remarkably healthy.

In terms of watering, this depends very much on the weather and the time of year. The vases never magnify the sun and cook the plant, despite the very warm temperatures and bright light they receive. During active growth, i fill the vase with water when i remember, maybe weekly (usually in the morning) and let the plants roots soak for around half an hour (sometimes, if i remember, i add a little feed), then empty it again. If its a particularly hot day, i might spray in the afternoon, but i rarely need to. During the winter, i find that spraying 2 or 3 times a week is all that is necessary.

Vanda at watering time.......



the same Vanda at flowering time.......



Vanda Sansai blue blooming happily in a vase...



As i mentioned earlier, the shape of the vase is
important. It needs to be nice and wide at the base (so there is plenty of space for roots), with a neck that is just wide enough for the black pot to sit in comfortably. In this way, the plant itself holds the humidity in the vase, and support is only an issue until the plant is established.

For plants of a smaller stature or baby plants, i have found that wine carafes or hyacinth vases for small species seem the perfect shape, and the black pot is not needed for support.

In terms of the stability of the plants, it is worth remembering that a glass vase is a lot heavier than a plastic pot, and will prove much harder to tip over, either through carelessness or through weight of flowers.

Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. I hope this little essay will provoke some more discussion on this issue

Thanks ever so much for your insight. For my birthday my beloved has agreed to buy me a Ascocenda White Angel. Im so excited...... it arrives tomorrow.

Im going out to go and get a suitable vase and mister shortly. This will be a huge learning curve for me as so far I have only got Phals.

Looking forward to the challenge....

[LeeB]

Originally Posted by telipogon

Neverend, the vases are open at the top so air is allowed to circulate. Also, the evaporating water from the vase draws fresh air down around the roots.

Lighting problems ? NY is much further South than birmingham, UK !

Have you tried this w/Neofinetias?

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I have been wondering about tolumnia. I have a friend who has tried a phal with some success, so I guess you just have to try it.

You may have just saved my Tolumnias with that thought.

As far as Phals go, my Phal. shilleriana just too off. Great root growth and much larger leaves. First bloomed seedling spike branched with 10 flowers.

Originally Posted by LeeB

Have you tried this w/Neofinetias?

I have 3 growing this way for about 7 months now. So far so good.

[Vanda lover]

I often wonder what other orchids this would work for. Like cattleyas, which like similar conditions to vandas

[Tommyr]

BUMP!

[bil]

I'm a comparative noob, this is my first year with orchids, and this thread has given me the confidence to try a vanda in a vase.

I'd be very interested to know what other types like cattleyas, for example would also do well with such a method. Any ideas? I'm in the south of Spain, and it can be pretty dry at times, so the idea of a vase to keep the roots humid, has a certain appeal.

What's peoples' ideas on other varieties in vases please?

[Vanda lover]

I have been wondering the same thing. My vandas do great in vases and I find myself wondering if other orchids that like to dry out quickly such as tolumnia and cattleyas would do well.

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by LeeB

Have you tried this w/Neofinetias?

Originally Posted by bil

I'm a comparative noob, this is my first year with orchids, and this thread has given me the confidence to try a vanda in a vase.

I'd be very interested to know what other types like cattleyas, for example would also do well with such a method. Any ideas? I'm in the south of Spain, and it can be pretty dry at times, so the idea of a vase to keep the roots humid, has a certain appeal.

What's peoples' ideas on other varieties in vases please?

So far a Neostylis Lou Sneary and a Neofinetia falcata Otomemaru(bean leaf) are doing great along with my Vanda species and hybrids. My Neofinetia falcata shutennou and Manjushage have stunted leaves.


Cattleya warscewiczii may do well but most do great in semihydroponics.

My Tolumnias seem to be perking up in vase culture.