Vanda sulking?

[sand_tiger86]

I have two Vandaceous little beasts - one is a mokara x ascocenda hybrid and the other is a pure Vanda hybrid. I put them both in pots with lava rock a just a bit of large bark and charcoal. I water them every morning, and mist them every afternoon on my lunch break. (It's a pain, to say the least) The Vanda has been branching its original roots with new tips like crazy, and I think the Mokara/Asco. is taking off with roots as well. But it seems like the foliage on both is at a stand still. Is this normal? Healthy root growth is always a good sign, but waiting for the foliage to take off is like watching a pot of water boil (...only slower). They've both retained very rigid leaves with no sign of softness or wrinkling.

By the way, would the Mokara x Asco. need different conditions than the full Vanda?

[catttan]

Healthy roots are always an indication that your plants are healthy and growing well. Mokaras need a bit more light than strap leaved vandas.

[Dorsetman]

I don't know where you live Sand Tiger ; in northern temperate zone countries you will have to give the Mokara every bit of light you can find ; but you probably do have the easy possibility of making them flower, whereas growers in tropical countries would be hard put to if they wanted to give the plant a chilling for a few nights. But the real question is whether your " little" beasts are big enough. They do have to get to a certain size before flowering is possible.

[sand_tiger86]

I live in Texas. I'm well aware that they're not flowering size, but they're just not budging in leaf growth. And I wasn't aware that Vandaceous orchids need a chill-down before they would flower? I thought they hated cool weather.

[Cjcorner]

Vanda hate cold weather...there are a few i've heard of that can handle it a little cooler...but Mokara are in the group that don't like it's air or water to be cold. For the record, Vanda can grow incredibly slow. Mokara are some of my favorites but they are very difficult to grow outside of the middle east imho. I have a few and I am struggling to get them to grow new roots.

[sand_tiger86]

Well to my defense, it's a Mokara/Asco. hybrid. Ascos. are fairly easy from what I've read, and yet Mokaras appear to be a royal pain in the ass. I'm not sure which parentage will take over.

[Cjcorner]

I agree, the Asco. side does make for an easier plant...but then i'm still struggling with regular vanda. lol I have been keeping them misted/watered/fertilized...etc. So far I have a few that just won't budge and do much of anything. The Mokara I bought at the show last October are still limping along...makes me nuts some days.

[sand_tiger86]

I'm giving all of my Vandas a full year to grow new leaves, flower, anything and if they still just sit there in the same condition as the day I bought them, they're getting put down the garbage disposal to make room for far more forgiving Catts. I'm not gonna baby something every single day for nothing!

[Dazed]

Hey hey now, lets not get rash. Step away from the disposal unit! After certain a person, who will remain nameless, (right Sand Tiger) was touting the vanda's attributes and dissin my orchid a little while back on another thread, and seeing all the gorgeous vandas and their alliances on here, I am now determined to get one... or ...maybe 2. So make the dang thing bloom, I'm learning from your mistakes!

[sand_tiger86]

Hey hey now, lets not get rash. Step away from the disposal unit! After certain a person, who will remain nameless, (right Sand Tiger) was touting the vanda's attributes and dissin my orchid a little while back on another thread, and seeing all the gorgeous vandas and their alliances on here, I am now determined to get one... or ...maybe 2. So make the dang thing bloom, I'm learning from your mistakes!

Ha, alright alright...I get it. But by all means, get one! I'm sure Barbardos is far closer to what they like than Texas, so you'd probably have better luck in the long run simply by location. I don't even think mine are big enough to bloom for another couple of years, but leaf progression would be nice to see.