Vascostylis Blue Fairy

[catttan]

This Vascostylis is very free flowering. Unfortunately it has lost all the leaves in the lower half of the plant, a condition we refer to as 'kaki ayam' in Malay, which means 'chicken legs' i.e. bald leg with feathers on the thighs only - very much like a feather-duster. I think it's time to top cut it and replant. It also has a decent sized keiki.

[claypothead]

Very pretty.

[Halloamey]

Ooh ! This one is pretty ! I love vascos, they offer such nice colors and shapes without affecting flower numbers !

[Kmac]

ooh, what color! Gorgeous, Yew.

[angel]

I have my own share of "kaki ayam" too, Yew Sung. And I never know quite what to do with them. You're lucky you managed to catch the true color of this orchid in this photo. In my experience, the true color of vandas of this shade (rich violet or purple, dark violet, purplish fuchsia) is difficult to catch on film or digital. It always comes out a bit different.

[catttan]

I have my own share of "kaki ayam" too, Yew Sung. And I never know quite what to do with them. You're lucky you managed to catch the true color of this orchid in this photo. In my experience, the true color of vandas of this shade (rich violet or purple, dark violet, purplish fuchsia) is difficult to catch on film or digital. It always comes out a bit different.

This is one of the vandas from an older batch and there is another one with the same 'kaki ayam' problem. The Thais never seem to have this problem even with strap-leaved vandas of more than a metre tall. They tell me that the area below the plants must be kept moist all the time so that there is constant high humidity especially around the trailing roots. I now keep potted ferns and anthuriums and other plants below the strap-leaved vandas and for the last 3 years the 'kaki ayam' problem seems to have stayed away (keeping fingers crossed). This also means I have to use fungicide and insecticide more frequently. A fair trade-off , I think.

[Cjcorner]

This is one of the vandas from an older batch and there is another one with the same 'kaki ayam' problem. The Thais never seem to have this problem even with strap-leaved vandas of more than a metre tall. They tell me that the area below the plants must be kept moist all the time so that there is constant high humidity especially around the trailing roots. I now keep potted ferns and anthuriums and other plants below the strap-leaved vandas and for the last 3 years the 'kaki ayam' problem seems to have stayed away (keeping fingers crossed). This also means I have to use fungicide and insecticide more frequently. A fair trade-off , I think.

I noticed an article on vanda types a short while back and it mentioned growing them over dirt to keep the humidity up. I now have mine hanging to the side of a porch where a tall bamboo gives the afternoon shade, and there is dirt right next to where they hang. I have all kinds of new roots and am doing better with them than ever. When I take them into the garage this fall I am going to make sure I have big pots of dirt underneath their hanging places. It really does work great. And your vanda is a beauty...love that color!

[catttan]

I noticed an article on vanda types a short while back and it mentioned growing them over dirt to keep the humidity up. I now have mine hanging to the side of a porch where a tall bamboo gives the afternoon shade, and there is dirt right next to where they hang. I have all kinds of new roots and am doing better with them than ever. When I take them into the garage this fall I am going to make sure I have big pots of dirt underneath their hanging places. It really does work great. And your vanda is a beauty...love that color!

I totally agree with you, Connie. In my shade house, though I have paving slabs all around to provide a path to walk through when it gets muddy during the rainy season, I still keep the earth patch directly beneath plants. To provide even more humidity I keep potted plants there as well.

I've attached a picture of a section where I keep some of my vandas to illustrate this .

[gardenguysorchids]

Love the color! Need shades on to look at it very long. LOL

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Man, the color on this orchid is so intense. I love it!! WOW!

Cheers,
BD