Have a problem

[L I Jane]

Has anyone ever tried to coax lateral roots on a rhyncovanda?Someone told me to stress the plant by withholding water & fertilizer but that's not the case with mine as the spot in the greenhouse doesn't really get much water & other vandas & ascos are growing lateral roots.My problem is that the plant is too high--up to my shoulder (I'm 5' 6" )I have it in a pot & there are plenty of roots at the bottom.I've run out of things to steady it as it will rock unless propped somehow.It is a nice blue & AOS awarded so I don't want to ditch it.

[LJA]

Jane, I've heard that if you water / fertilize the area of the plant you're trying to get to grow the roots, but leave the base comparatively dry, the plant will respond by putting out roots in the area from which it's getting the most moisture. I have never tried this myself, but it might be worth a shot.

[L I Jane]

Thanks Louis--it's worth a shot I guess --altho' I've put my plants outside now for the summer so the rain will nix that but maybe I could put the main roots at the bottom in a plastic bag or something to keep them dry.Anyway it's something to think about.

[Jmoney]

I heard for vandas you can make some partial cuts into the stem wherever you want the roots to show up. I'm sure some rooting hormones or what not there might not hurt. Maybe a wad of sphag?

I don't grow that many vandas so if it goes belly up, you didn't hear it from me.

[L I Jane]

Well, today I took the plunge & my rhyncovanda is in 2 pieces.I lopped it off and sealed it with cinnamon.The top half is lying shaded over some fresh moist sphagnum but not touching that gets watered everyday.The rest is sitting there 'topless'.I figured that I had maybe 2 chances this way.If the top doesn't throw off roots --then it's a goner but maybe the bottom half will throw off a keiki or two.This will be an experiment so I will keep you informed of what is happening

[LJA]

Now that I *have* done!

Sealed the top in a plastic bag, and threw it under the bench, where it's dark. Works wonders--roots in no time.

[LJA]

Here's a (bad) pic of two halves of the same vanda. The plant on the right is the "bottom;" it's develloped a keiki that's already bloomed. Plant on the left is the original top. The whole thing was about 14 feet long, the crown had reached the peak of the GH, so I cut it. Works just fine!

You can also find vendors selling these vanda tops at shows here and there, rootless plants you can seal in a bag and place in dim light for a couple of months. The lower leaves will die off, and roots will eventually grow in their place.