VANDA COERULEA yellowing!!

ozorchid · #1 07-22-2007, 02:01 AM

Hi all. Just wondering what I did wrong? my Vanda coerulea bloomed last March here in Oz but since I moved further south to Melbourne (from Sydney), I thought I'd give it more light during the winter months but it is now going a tad yellow in colour!!!, I rememember it to be nice and green!!??, am I on the way to burning it? or is it more of a culture thing with fertilizer usage, maybe it is missing an essential mineral of some kind?, can someone advise on what to do? I want it to be a nice green again but not to stop it flowering. It grows in my greenhouse with minimum temp of 4-6C and a high of 24-28C at the moment.
Cheers
I attached pic from last blooming in March...

Brutal_Dreamer · #2 07-22-2007, 08:54 AM

I suspect it is just the move that caused the yellowing, but hard to say without seeing the plant. Is the temperature much different? Watering the same as normal? All of those things could cause the plant some stress.

It does have a beautiful flower. I hope it will be fine.

Cheers,
BD

ozorchid · #3 07-22-2007, 03:58 PM

Hi BD. Thanks for the reply. Well, the watering was cut back as temperatures here are much cooler than what it was accustomed to in Sydney aswell as fertilizer. I just went by what the roots were telling me. The green tips went dormant so I cut back. I have put it in my new g/house with lots of sun and warmth during the day so hopefully it will start on the way to health, it is a pure coerulea and took me a long time to find a "true" jungle coloured plant as you know a lot of these vandas are sold as coerulea but are really meristemmed triploids not the original wild colour or shape thus, this one is a favourite for us here. Fingers crossed and will let you know how I go...
Cheers

Brutal_Dreamer · #4 07-22-2007, 07:47 PM

**fingers crossed for you**

Cheers,
BD

orchid-man · #5 07-23-2007, 02:35 AM

it may also be getting more light than previously in Sydney,even though you are 100's of K's further south.You may find that you may have to increase the Potash levels to bring the color back into the plants.If the the fert that you are using already has a fairly high Potash level you may just have to add so Epsom salts as most ferts are to low on this .

ozorchid · #6 07-23-2007, 04:36 AM

Epsom salts! wow, ok...never thought of that. I am currently using orchid bloom booster. It is fairly high in potash, though I do have liquid potash at my disposal to use on the plant if need be. So how would I go about using the epsom salts? what would be the quantity/ratios and would I use it only the once or use it along with fertiliser? sorry to sound a bit "dah, dah" about the issue, but your advice is much appreciated.
Cheers

orchid-man · #7 07-23-2007, 02:44 PM

mix it in with your normal fert each time .The ratio told to me by an old tomatoe grower(they are after the same as us,FLOWER)is equal parts magnesiun sulphate and potash.

ozorchid · #8 07-23-2007, 03:39 PM

Ok, so I make a mixture of my general fertiliser for growth and then make another solution of equal parts epsom salts and potash and add that to my fertiliser solution? is that right? or just use that epsom mix as a stand alone?
Cheers

orchid-man · #9 07-23-2007, 08:08 PM

just add the epsom salts to the fert that you are already using.About 1 teaspoon to 5L

ozorchid · #10 07-24-2007, 07:22 AM

Thank you for clearing that up. I will give it a go and let you know how it turns out. Thank you for your help.
Cheers