Does my Vanda have a virus?

[Susie11]

Your problem might have come from the rapid switch from a lower light situation to a higher light one. Any orchid that's going from shadier conditions to sunnier conditions needs to be introduced to the sunnier conditions gradually...if your coerulea was in much lower light before, and it went straight from that lighting to 14 hours a day under a lamp, it's bound to show some signs of shock. Most plants need a few weeks to slowly acclimate to the higher light levels, or they will burn.

Your spectabile is an exception, however. That's one of those plants that you can blast with high light and it will just happily bake in the sun all day. I have a dendrobium of a similar type that takes more sun than my Mokaras (which are supposedly bred to tolerate maximum sun of all vandaceous types). I've never seen that plant burn. And some of my catts are more tolerant of higher light, too...so even if the other plants you have under the lights aren't showing signs of having difficulty adjusting, the coerulea seems to be a more sensitive variety.

You will probably ultimately be fine with this lighting situation...I would just advise phasing your coerulea into the new light over a period of 3-4 weeks. That should eliminate any scorching. I forgot the rule of the "gradual sun-in" when I received an ascocenda recently, and it ended up completely charred. I should post a pic...it will make it, but three of its leaves are completely black. I'm just waiting for them to drop off. If your coerulea is taking damage from the light, it may eventually adjust, but it will have a harder time doing so and may be set back a bit in growth. It couldn't hurt to ease it into the new lighting situation. Yes, it takes longer, but you will ultimately be rewarded in the end.

Just my two cents, since you mentioned that you were confused about how this could be too much exposure for it. I wish you luck! Hope you see your beauty bloom!

Thanks for the info. That is something I have read about but never applied to my situation. It didn't occur to me that it could burn under a lamp - I thought that was only in sunlight. This makes sense to me now. I shall have to introduce it slowly to the bright light although I feel that it may be too difficult as I have only the lamp or the windowsill to offer it at the moment. The weather here in London is appalling. Maybe give it light for less hours of the daylight bulb then build up to full tolerance?