Vanda leaves yellowing and wilting.

[Perverockstar]

Hello. I got this Vanda tricolor a little bit more than a week before. Some bottom leaves are wilting and turning yellow, top leaves look ok. Normal leaf cycle? Something else going on?

I have it on a south facing windowsill. Temps are around 20-23⁰C. It will get a lot warmer in Summer. It is potted in Bark, I soaked it once a couple of days ago.







I have experience growing other genera but this is my first Vanda, so I'm learning.

Thank you!

[Blueszz]

• Can you show is some pictures from the stem and leaf axils?
• Where does the yellowing start, near the stem or in the middle/near the tip of the leaf?
• Did you pot it in bark or came it potted?
• Are the roots well established?

I don't think the wilting and leaf shedding is part of a normal cycle. They don't shed leaves that often.

My Vanda's currently are still indoors and I soak them at least every other day with the current temperature indoors (23-26C). 26C in the sun.
Mine are bare root. I soak them for several hours but make sure that they are dry quickly.

I know some people grow Vanda's potted but I'm not a big fan. IMHO they do best bare root. Bare root the roots dry faster but the plants are high maintenance during summer heat waves (25-33C). Especially during winter in your and mine colder climate, roots drying fast is very important.

Hopefully others with more experience chime in. I still have a lot to learn.

[Perverockstar]

Originally Posted by Blueszz

• Can you show is some pictures from the stem and leaf axils?
• Where does the yellowing start, near the stem or in the middle/near the tip of the leaf?
• Did you pot it in bark or came it potted?
• Are the roots well established?

I don't think the wilting and leaf shedding is part of a normal cycle. They don't shed leaves that often.

My Vanda's currently are still indoors and I soak them at least every other day with the current temperature indoors (23-26C). 26C in the sun.
Mine are bare root. I soak them for several hours but make sure that they are dry quickly.

I know some people grow Vanda's potted but I'm not a big fan. IMHO they do best bare root. Bare root the roots dry faster but the plants are high maintenance during summer heat waves (25-33C). Especially during winter in your and mine colder climate, roots drying fast is very important.

Hopefully others with more experience chime in. I still have a lot to learn.

I have added more pictures. It came potted.

Is it possible that it is stress from being recently acquired?

[estación seca]

Vandas need a lot of water. The pot is very small for the plant, meaning the root system is likewise small. I would water every day. You might even need to soak the pot in water every day for an hour or two.

[Perverockstar]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Vandas need a lot of water. The pot is very small for the plant, meaning the root system is likewise small. I would water every day. You might even need to soak the pot in water every day for an hour or two.

So, the wilting and yellowing are for lack of watering?

[Blueszz]

Looks indeed like lack of watering. I don't see other concerning things.

If you decide to repot in a larger pot, it's a good moment to inspect the roots.

[Perverockstar]

Originally Posted by Blueszz

Looks indeed like lack of watering. I don't see other concerning things.

If you decide to repot in a larger pot, it's a good moment to inspect the roots.

That's just what I did a few hours ago. I repotted it in a 16cm aeroid pot with fresh Orchiata. All the roots look in great condition and they are abundant.

I'll water it more often. Let's see if a nice soak every couple of days does it. It certainly is a lot more thirsty that most of my other Orchids. More like my Maxillaria tenuifolia.

Thank you.

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by Perverockstar

That's just what I did a few hours ago. I repotted it in a 16cm aeroid pot with fresh Orchiata. All the roots look in great condition and they are abundant.

I'll water it more often. Let's see if a nice soak every couple of days does it. It certainly is a lot more thirsty that most of my other Orchids. More like my Maxillaria tenuifolia.

Thank you.

Maxillaria tenuifolia indeed is thirsty. In between waterings I even water from the bottom if I'm in a hurry and it 'drinks' everything.

Good luck with your Vanda. Hopefully repotting and watering more often/longer will do the trick.

[estación seca]

Member Fairorchids has posted a lot of information about growing Vandas in pots. I think it's also on his Web site.