Vanda Species - Potting advice

**cdayinflorida** · February 17th, 2012, 07:15 PM

Well, I bought a few hard to find vanda species (ustii and bensonii) fresh out of flasks. There is a woman in my area that has a lab and does flasking and meristeming. Both of these batchs of seed grown babies have been replated several times and they are pretty big. Because they are hard to find species I want to be extra careful. I know that many compots that I have bought have had small gravel used to anchor and pot. The sower recommended sphagnum and charcoal. I'm not so sure on that for the way I grow. I think it might stay too damp.

I know I'll keep them inside the shadehouse as soon as it warms up a tiny bit and just grow them in more shade. I would appreciate all the help on this someone can offer.

Thank you in advance!

**cdayinflorida** · February 17th, 2012, 07:18 PM

One of the exciting things that came out of this...she is going to trade plants for my species seed. I get to learn a little more about pollination and sowing seed.

**pavel** · February 17th, 2012, 08:42 PM

'Fraid I can't be of much help. Do you have multiples of each seedling or only one of each? If you have multiples you might try a few the way she recommends and a few in gravel.

**cdayinflorida** · February 17th, 2012, 08:48 PM

I have about 25 to 30 of each. Not counting the teeny tiny ones that I'm not going to even try. I thought about it, Paul. Trying them a couple of ways. I hate to lose even one

**Roy** · February 17th, 2012, 09:47 PM

Cathy, the deflasked plants I pot straight into perlite. Its inert & the roots start to grow into it quickly. Once they are established ( 6 mths ) I pot them into small baskets w/without mix, depending on time of year. I have been using cocoanut cubes which seems to be working very well atm.

**cdayinflorida** · February 17th, 2012, 10:06 PM

Sponge rock ok, Roy? Thanks for the advice.

**zainal abidin** · February 19th, 2012, 06:26 PM

Good luck Cathy perlite one of the best sponge rock I never have any experience on it, looking forward the successful rate of your deflasking kids.

**cdayinflorida** · February 20th, 2012, 06:37 AM

All potted. I was able to get six pots out of both species. I will separate them once I start seeing growth over the next few months. I used large sponge rock. I've lightly enclosed them in quart size baggies. I've ripped the sides so they are getting a little air movement. I will continue to separate the sides of the bags over the next few days to harden them off.
The photo show extra moisture. They have been lightly sprayed with a very weak kelp extract for the first time. They were soaked in physan when first removed from the flask. I think I'm opting for no more fungicide until they are placed outside. I might be wrong on that? I'm not sure?

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