Not as good as Delphi's - got new vandas

[orchid_killer]

I went to the big box store yesterday and saw these vandas. I was surprised to find them with viable roots and not too shrivelled up leaves, so, of course, I had to buy them. They must have just gotten off the truck.

So, I put them in baskets and hung them under a tree. Now, I'm looking at it and it seems like I might not have enough light on it. What do you think?

This picture was taken at 10:30AM today. That light is "it" for the whole day:

*The one on the top is the trichoglottis I got from Marissa.

[orchid_killer]

P.S.
My husband named my new vandas =
5-weeks, 5-months, and dead-by-winter

That's how bad it is at my house. It is now a standing joke about my orchid growing skills. I'm here to shock them all!

[Becky15349]

Too dark They will definitely need more light than that, I'm sorry! It looks like such a nice spot - maybe some phals there?

[eaglssong]

You go for it Tess. Boy is your hubby going to be surprised.

I don't know about the light, so I'll let someone else answer that question. I have mine hanging in a south facing window. I was worried about burning them, but it looks like the trees are doing a pretty good filtering job. Now I'll just worry about not enough light. Oh well, so far, they're looking pretty good.

[cindiras]

You might want to leave them in the tree for a week while they adjust to temps and humidity in their new outdoor home (they've probably been raised in a shade house/greenhouse before the big box store). After an initial few days to a week in the lower light area in the tree, move to a higher light are near the outside edge of the tree for a week, then into full sun area. Is that going to be workable for you?

[Tmai]

You might want to leave them in the tree for a week while they adjust to temps and humidity in their new outdoor home (they've probably been raised in a shade house/greenhouse before the big box store). After an initial few days to a week in the lower light area in the tree, move to a higher light are near the outside edge of the tree for a week, then into full sun area. Is that going to be workable for you?

Very good advice. You can get really long 's' hooks for hanging from a higher up limb. They do need more sun, and I water mine daily in the summer and have had very good success. Good luck! show that husband you mean business! He will eat his words.

Tami

Ps. Tess, where abouts in FL do you live? I'm in the west panhandle.

[orchid_killer]

Tami, I'm in Jacksonville.

Okay, I'm leaving it in the tree for a week. There was such a nice breeze out there today, I spent the afternoon working by the tree (I work off a computer at home). My husband is crazy. He stuck plastic orchid flowers in them. Hah!

I have another smaller tree on the east side of the house that might be sunnier. I'll check the amount of light in that tree and move them next week.

If that's not suitable either, I'll go build myself an arbor with shade cloth... I'm that determined!

[delphiguy]

i am not sure what the condition the vandas are in prior from you acquiring them. They definitely need more
light, and depending on the type of leaves more sun also, but do it gradually maybe in a span of 1-2 weeks, also
you said that they already have good roots, thats a good start, just water them until the roots turns green, you
can do it 2x or more.

Also you have to look for the roots, you said they are viable good roots but watch them while your watering
them, if some roots dont turn green then they may not be helping the plants, just a thought, for me, if they turn
yellow it is still ok for the plant, but if black i trim it off. You can promote more root growth by placing some charcoal
in the baskets, as the roots always tend to look for moisture.

You can definitely do this, and prove you husband wrong. Good Luck.

[Tmai]

Thanks, delphiguy, I didn't know about adding charcoal. I'll try that.
Tess, Jacksonville is about the same lat as Pensacola. I have my vandas in a bright shade house under about 6000 foot candles midday (no direct sun) but I think yours will do even better in the trees with dappled light and lots of moving air. delphi is right - watering 2x daily is good but don't let the water settle in the leaf axles in the evenings. It won't have a chance to evaporate and that could lead to rot or leaf loss. I water the whole plant once a day in the morning. For fert I spray the whole plant with a spray bottle with full strength 20-20-20 fert/physan/superthrive(just a drop or two of superthrive) once every week or two. Usually every two weeks, sometimes three - I forget a lot. But my vanda types seem very happy. All have bloomed regularly and one has bloomed 12 times in the last 2 years. I love the vanda culture - very little problems with rot, pests, disease, repotting, and lots of reward with blooms. Have fun, buy good quality vandas, and sit back and enjoy. Good luck! May the Orchid Gods bless your efforts

Tami

[delphiguy]

Oh i forgot, when you apply fertilizers, first water them and then apply fertilzers, so a not
to waste so much good fertilizers in the process.