How does temperature affect blue vandas?

[Wrebbitrocks]

Hello,

I'm purchasing a Vanda Pachara Delight and have seen many different hues of blue vandas in image searches. They range from dark purple, to intense violet-blue-indigo, and some others that are light lavender with blue-violet tesselations.

My question is, how does temperature affect the blue colouration of the flowers if at all? My phrag besseaes bloomed orange because apparently the temps weren't cool enough to bring out more red. Does this apply to blue vandas too? Will high/lower temps produce bluer/lighter flowers?

Just wanted to ask since I know the color is governed by genetics even within a particular clone, or it could just be differences in lighting or the ability to capture that intense blue that I've been craving. (LITERALLY craving because that ultra-violet color is very intense and makes me want one )

Thanks to anyone that can help here!!!

[Paul Mc]

I've been wondering the same thing. I bought the exact same one as you and then saw different variations of the color in pictures online. I was just assuming it was due to the camera and lighting, but some of the pictures were hard for me to attribute that to.

[Wrebbitrocks]

exactly, especially since some of them are taken in the same lighting. it could also be the age of a bloom as ive read that coeruleas open white then darken with age

[Paul Mc]

Oooooooh, fascinating! I did not know that but now I'm even more excited than ever. I have both the one you are referring to and the species coerulea. I bought both because I'm in love with the blue flowers as opposed to the other colors. Nothing else in my collection has a true blue other than a bollopetalum which is just now beginning to open for the first time in 2 years that I've had it (purchased as NBS).

I ultimately decided to get both because 1.) I wasn't sure about the coloration based on pictures and 2.) in case I killed one since they are my first Vanda's, lol...

[Wrebbitrocks]

odd that im planning the same. i havent yet bought the coerulea since im on budget and have yet to find a reaosnable price but the for same reasons, ESPECIALLY the blue. i also wanted to experiment on how to get the closest to blue blue without as much purple. not my First vandas but might as well be since my last two froze after only a few weeks with me by accident. so these will kinda be like the first

[Paul Mc]

WOW, sorry to hear about that. I'm actually quite surprised that no one has jumped into this conversation quite as of yet. However, there tends to be a lot of posters on Friday nights and throughout Saturday. Hopefully someone will answer your question.

As a side note, the coerulea can withstand cooler temps than most Vanda's. My research indicates low's around 45 degrees night temperatures. However, I do not know how this particular hybrid will do since it does have other things in it's parentage. I'm currently leaving it outside while temps hover at night around 45 to 48 degrees.

Also, they don't like as warm of environments as most other Vanda's. Coerulea's are a cooler growing Vanda than most according to people here and research. So watch out when the daytime temps get hot. I learned that the hard way. My hybrid started to have wrinkled bottom leaves due to the heat. I moved it quickly - before they were even visible to the eye - but I could feel them when I ran my finger across them.

[Wrebbitrocks]

That's great for me because i can grow them inside where the temps are cooler. i had a manuvadee blue before and it loved growing under a peach tree where i had it so im guessing the hybrids must like outdoors but the species a bright indoor nische would suffice

[Bud]

I have a Vanda Pachara Delight(pix in my album) that bloomed this summer. It was outside on the fire escape since April facing towards the street since it is illegal to block the stairwell with anything(even xmas lights are illegal) I had to put it indoors last June to make the blooms last. I noticed that it had brighter coloring and sharp tones of deep purple and almost to dark indigo-violet. The flowers also got bigger and flatter. Last time I let it outside for the whole duration of the blooming: it was lighter in shades of color and smaller bloom and concave shaped flowers as opposed to the flat ones that its supposed to have...due to the recent drop in temp...all of my orchids are now indoors. Its in the 60's in the day and 50's at night and my vandas like to be warm...it has produced a basal keiki that is fastly growing ; it is due to bloom again...

[trdyl]

Thanks for starting this one. I have been wondering about this topic as well.

[Bud]

I have been to Tucson for the Gem Show(my 6th year = last weeks of Jan and first weeks of Feb=winter in NY) and Tucson have frost at night and then nice spring weather in daytime(as compared to NY springtime)
Vandas dont like frost. You need to take it indoors where theres heat the lowest it can tolerate is 65F
But Tucson in summer can rise to 105F and very dry...you can put the vanda under a tree and water it twice a day...before you go to work and when you arrive home(do not grow it bare root in a basket..put it in a hanging pot with media=large coco chips, lava rocks, charcoal and hydroton=Florida and CA have humidity in their atmosphere so they can grow bare root in a basket, but Tucson is dry cactus heat) But overall it is easy to grow
Good luck!