Vase Culture for Vandas

Okay...

As you all know, I cannot bloom these creatures to save my life, but I decided to try again this year as I am so stubborn and REFUSE to give up until I get these to bloom. This is V. Robert's Delight 'Garnet Beauty' and I'm trying to grow it in a vase like some do. Several Northern Europeans in less than great conditions have been able to bloom vandas this way. Also, growing indoors there is less of a possibility of root dessication as the humidity in the vase nutures the roots.

Any comments on this? Has anyone tried it? Did you learn anything?

All comments are welcome even, "Gosh Clint...go back to your floof and leave the vandas to the people with greenhouses."

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I took a taxi from LA to Venus in 1985.

Best of luck Clint!!! I am keeping my fingers crossed for you

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If life gives you lemons - make lemonade!!

Hi Clint,

That vanda looks really healthy to me. I wonder if it is old enough to bloom yet though? Maybe that is the only thing keeping it from blooming for you? I am not sure how large it would have to be to bloom.

The only other thing that I notice is the very dark color. The plant looks healthy, but the darkness of the leaves might mean it needs more (brighter levels) of light. Our vandas are light green. Take a look...



Cheers,
BD

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We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box. ...Hmmm? .

Hi Clint,

I do have a couple of vanda seedlings in water culture and they do not appear to grow better or worse than those that are mounted or in baskets.

See the middle-bottom section, showing two plants in water containers:


A little smothered with calcium deposits. These built up before I hooked up a polyphosphate filter to my mister line.
Subsequent misting and watering is working on removing the calcium deposits.



I have taken a shotgun approach to vandas. Chances are one of them will fit my growing conditions
Mounted, no medium.
Wood basket, no medium.
Basket, LECA pellets.
Plastic pot, LECA pellets.
Fern basket, LECA pellets.
Water container.

Also, I agree with Bruce that the leaves look a bit too dark by vanda standards.

I salute your determination, Clint and I am confident you will tame this beast and have it bloom for you ...

I'm gunna agree with both the posts above. Here's a quick snap of my V. Robert's Delight 'Garnet Beauty' I just took after reading your post. I do think your's probably needs more light. (I had a hard time taking a picture where the plant or the ceiling fan wasn't shading the leaves--sorry. )

It is also quite possible that the plant is too young. The first old spikes on mine are about halfway up the plant--and of course they didn't form until the plant had already grown quite a bit above that level. I don't know if you can see the old spike stubbies in the picture or not.

I haven't ever tried water culture, but the plant really looks good.

Attached Images

  

I agree the plant is probably a bit dark, so I do need to up the light a bit. My V. Manuvadee bare root in basket requires a lot more watering and gets about 4 hours of direct sunlight a day and is quite yellowish--almost to the point it worries me but at least it's not completely frying (but does have a couple of sunburn spots).

I can see the old flower spikes, Sadie..and thanks for the picture...it really helps. Geez,
these plants try my patience but I guess deep down that's what I really want from orchid growing--the challenge.

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I took a taxi from LA to Venus in 1985.

So my question is Clint, how is the air going to circulate around the roots if they're in a glass vase? Won't lack of air circulation eventually cause a problem?

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It always rains after a dry spell !:

Good luck Clint. You'll get that thing to bloom -- from sheer determination if nothing else.

This is really awesome, I wish you luck - and if it works, I'm going to try it too!!!

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