So about a month ago around Easter time this year I picked up a hybrid Vanda that quite frankly looked like it had been lacking water and was the last of a crop of orchids left in the back basically neglecting as the orchid farm was expecting its newest shipment of orchids in from Thailand. This Vanda mind you, had a very healthy spike on it and very very long hanging roots.
My guess is this was a result of it trying to focusing on more root length which would mean larger surface area of the roots & thus better ability to absorb as much moisture from the humid air as possible.
So as of today i have had it bloom; having only 5 blooms opening which weren't all very nice an flat mind you that the colour was rich and they were large blooms. My only assumption was that this plant had been under a lot of stress before i rescued it.
Prior to blooming I maintained a solid daily regimen of watering early in the morning, following up with fertilizer mixed with plant vitamins as soon as the hanging roots are partially dry. It was in a partially shaded area getting the right amount of sun that a hanging vanda needs. The blooms opened quickly as expected given the watering an feeding schedule i use on all my Vandas. I also reduced feeding significantly during blooming to avoid bud blasting. The lush light green colour to the leaves came back but for the life of me it has yet to even send out 1 single new root.
Let me mention too that roots are about 5-6 feet long & the outer appearance of the roots (Velamen) is very coarse & brown but I know they are alive and absorbing water since after watering they turn deep green and water droplets are clinging to them quite some time after watering.
It is now coming to the end of its blooms as there is only one left as all others have fallen off now. Also it has dropped 2 leaves, 1 from the bottom of both sides.
I know i have been doing everything right give or take some minute mistake; and yet no roots especially before the blooms developed as i usually see on my other Vandas.
Could it be that this is a very old plant? Or should I wait a bit longer after the last bloom has dried up for some sort of root growth?
I had a thought of my own as well and would love some opinions on it. I was thinking of cutting of the spike with the 2 & 1/2 blooms left & trimming off some of the roots and re-setting it in a new basket to hopefully shock it into producing some new root growth. It did have an emerging leaf at the top that has grown out a bit since i got it but that too has slowed down.
All advice is more than welcome; you have my ears!
Attached is two photos one of the base up and one showing that the blooms were indeed very lush not as much blooms as I would imagine if i had gotten it in better condition, but still.
Thanks
V. Taweewan x V. Ponpimol Hybrid w/ apparent root growth issue
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