A newbie, a vanda and and some help

[Chanoo]

Hi I'm pretty new to the orchid growing game, and have a few questions that would be great if you guys were able to provide me with some answers. I am located in southern Queensland Australia.
I have acquired the vanda the one in the picture, its current position in the garden is partial morning and afternoon sun I am watering it once a week with about 300ml, i do not know when it flowered last. any help with will be wonderful as im not sure if this is the correct maintenance routine.
Also am i able to get the other orchid identified as i have no idea it lives on a tree in the back yard.
Once again thankyou and i look forward to learning loads about the wonderful world of orchids
Thankyou Chanoo.

[tucker85]

Vandas don't have pseudobulbs to store water so they need lots of moisture. They like high humidity and frequent watering. I water my vandas every day in the morning. If you don't have the time, every other day would probably be OK. They also like bright light most of the day with some protection from the strongest light at midday. If you could give it full sun for several hours in the morning it would improve the chances of blooming. Fertilize once a week during the spring and summer.

[catttan]

Welcome from Malaysia. Very healthy looking orchids you have there.Your location should approximate that of Northern Thailand which is a great place for most orchids particularly vandas and dendrobiums. Your orchids look great abd that vanda looks very happy indeed.Normally we water the vandas at least twice a day especially around the roots. Not sure about the ID of the other orchid.

[maryv]

Hi, welcome and good luck to you.

[Cjcorner]

What a beauty of a plant. I also water my vanda twice a day in the summer. The higher the temps the more you can water them. And they like to be fertilized and sprayed for fungal infections weekly. I also use honey in my fertilizer sprays, about once a month. Make sure to use a fertilizer for orchids, and apply it full strength to them once a week, after you have watered and the roots are wet. Wet roots absorb nutrients easier. Hope we get to see some of your flower pictures soon...

[panam]

Welcome, Chanoo!

[Dorsetman]

You say you don't know when your Vanda last bloomed. Well, look for the brown woody remains of old flower stems. If a vanda is well grown, it will bloom from perhaps everyt other pair of leves - but never from the top three pairs of leaves. If it really is growing - look for new green tips on the roots - and is not flowering, then it needs a temperature drop for a night or two. Maybe difficult for you, but perhaps in a shady spot with a fan on it ? A chill, like a 10 degree drop, usually starts a spike off within say 4 weeks.

[Chanoo]

Thanks for the great welcome and the advice, you are indeed a friendly bunch. I did find a old flower stem on the vanda, it's about 2/3rds up the stem, interesting to see when the next on will be and what colour and pattern it is, it's all very exciting, it's like waiting for one of your children to be born.
Thanks chanoo