Vanda spikes keep dying

[jptg7781]

Hi all!! Ok, my problem is that on my Trichovanda Thai Velvet 'Meechai', each time the spike gets a certain length, boom it dies! By the look of it, I belive it has done this with ALL of its spikes, it just doesnt look like a spike was ever cut off. So I thought it has something to do with me, but my mother also has one (bought at same place, same time). Are we both doing something wrong, or is there something worng with this plant? Please help!

Thanks!
Tracy

[Gin]

Hi ,I noticed you are in Fl. if the Vandas are outside especially , check for Thrips if I remember what a friend told me that lives in Fl. they are fast moving and hide when disturbed , try holding a piece of white paper under a spike and tap it . There is probably someone else that knows more about them then I do . Gin

[jptg7781]

Gin-

Thanks for your quick response! As I was doing some research on the plant itself, I came across another post from another forum. This gentlemen had the exact same plant from the same dealer I got mine from. He posted that he had thrips. So I went out and sprayed all of the vandas with Safer insecticide. Do you think that would help, or does it need to be a stronger insecticide like Malathion?

Tracy

[Gin]

I typed in Vandas Thrips ,one site said to use the soap spray 2 times a week or Orthene wettable powder once a week did not say how many times for the Orthene , 3 times for scale not sure about Thrips . My friend did say they will wreck a bloom spike . Bug Hater ! Gin

[Tanya]

I have a Mokara that is like that. The spike appear, but if the plant is moved or the humidity changed a little bit, the spike stop growing and turn brown. It will grow another spike after sometime but that too will abort if the condition is not right.Even the roots are sensitive to touch or changes,example, if the roots are bumped by something hard or if you happen to accidentally break one of them, that is enough to make the spike stop growing and eventually die. The plant (a Vanda type) is Mokara Clark Kuan 'Ruby'. Sudden change in temperature too affect the spike.

Another is a Cattleya type, I have only seen the bloom once. Most of the time, the spike appear, and then the bud, and then WHAM!! its gone....I guess I will be more vigilant from now on.

[Gin]

I have 2 Mokaras that have never spiked got them about 4 years ago turned out they were rootless top cuttings , One is over 3 foot tall roots all over the place , not spike 1 , the other one is almost as big and 0 on it too . Tried more sun this summer and still 0 .... might use them for Xmas trees lolol . Gin

[Tanya]

Gin, most Mokaras take full sun. They love the rain too .

The Christmas tree sounds a good idea. I have a huge Cymbidium growing in an 18" pot, I wonder how it looks like with Christmas lights?

[Diane]

Say - that's a great idea - an orchid christmas! I've got a couple of big old Standard Catts that I could decorate! Wonder how they'd handle the tinsel?? LOL

[Gin]

Lets have an orchid tree decorating contest later this year !the winner gets to lay on the fireplace mantle , till Easter. No mantle? a BBQ grill will work . ! Gin

[ntgerald]

and two giant Doritis pulchaerrima that are like that, no blooms, nada, zip. Huge plants with roots thicker than the fattest spaghetti and no blooms. One day out of frustration I might wring them apart.

I usually don't have a problem with vandaceous although most of mine have yet to rebloom. Still, I think they are on the way there because of their fabulous growth.