vanda orchids - do they need a hothouse

[bhawk3]

I have a few Vanda's should I make them a little hot house to encourage more growth they are just at a stand still, not growing and not dying or are they alright hanging out with the cattelya's.
Thanks for your help.

[cdayinflorida]

I'm not sure what you growing conditions are at the moment. Is it cool? dry? Are they in very bright sunlight? Keep them well watered depending on your daytime temps. You want to make sure that roots have turned overall dark green when you have finished watering. Two applications of water to the point of runoff spacing it several minutes apart should work and you will notice a color change from white to totally dark apple green. Saturated roots are absolutely necessary to provide moisture the plants need to withstand heat and dry air. Vandas are big feeders I would try to fertilize at least once a week, but weakly. It is spring here in the Florida. There are new roots busting out and many species are in bloom. But vandas do just hang there. That is their nature till they bloom.

[bhawk3]

I'll go and take some photo's. We are just starting Autum here its pretty warm around 30 during the day and cooling off a little at night. I don't look after them as I should, that is why I was thinking of a little hot house so they would always have moisture around, in between me hosing them.

[cdayinflorida]

Anytime you can keep the moisture up it would be good. But you answered your own question. They really need to be looked after more in terms of water and fertilizer. If they stay pretty dry I would imagine you might need to spray for thrips.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Anytime you can keep the moisture up it would be good. But you answered your own question. They really need to be looked after more in terms of water and fertilizer. If they stay pretty dry I would imagine you might need to spray for thrips.

Good points!

cheers,
BD