Getting a vanda to spike

I need help. Please.

The Vanda in question is V. Benice Miller. I've had this one for two years now and i'm getting impatient to see a flower.

Last year in winter, when I moved the chids inside into the bathroom, it sort of developed something, which promptly dried out due to the decrease in watering.

This year, I was even better to it and placed it on a humidity tray when in came in wintering, surrounded by four other chids. Yet it won't do anything for me. The temps have been more that low enough to trigger a seasonal change.

What am i doing wrong.

__________________
What does this button do???

I would guess it is a light issue. Increase the amount of light. Growing vandas in the home is a real challenge. Give it very bright light - just make sure it does not burn. That should cause the spike to start. After that, make sure it gets regular water and food. Good luck!

Cheers,
BD

__________________
RVO's OrchidTalk Forums - "Bringing People Together to grow Orchids Better" Help support our Community: Donate or Become an OrchidTalk Subscriber today!
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? .

I don't think its a light problem because it grew the whole of summer in the shadehouse and the leaves are tinged with purple. i know that light levels are lower than summer cos the kitchen windows face west and a huge wall. With the winter sun dipping lower, and living on a hill, i don't think it gets direct light nowadays but it still gets a lot of ambient light.

__________________
What does this button do???

Do vandas require a change in temps? I was always under the impression that they like being warm year round and go dormant if the temps drop too much.

I have an Ascocenda growing on my windowsill. It's kept warm, gets a misting daily, a good soak once a week (it's in a plastic pot) and lots of light and is now growing its second spike since March. Maybe get one of those instead

I would say day length rather than temp is the seasonal trigger for Vandas also they are heavy feeders. I mist mine 2-3 times a week in the summer with weak fertilizer and hose them off daily.
Cin

__________________
This ain't no dress rehearsal

Great Info!!! I was asking to myself this same question for a long time. I have several Vanda plants and so far, the only one that blooms (the others are too young) does it when the days are longer. So it makes sence to me that the increase inphotoperiod is the key.

Cheers,
Jorge Joel...

I don't know if this will help but.... I have four vandas that have never spiked for me until now. I found a new spike just days ago on one. The only thing that I did differently this season was with moisture. In the past I had let my vandas live bare-root in a basket, but my humidity is rarely high enough for them to thrive, so I found myself dunking them in water every day, which can be cumbersome. This season I lightly packed moss around the edge of their baskets, hoping that the moss would hold some moisture and increase the humidity around the plant. The moss is very lightly packed, and it barely touches any roots. Other than that, I keep my vandas in the brightest spots in my apartment, giving them a lot of morning sun. Apparently something worked. Good luck with yours!
-kitty

__________________
every artist is a cannibal...