Vanda Help

[Tamara]

Hello all!
I am in the market for a little help with my vanda orchid. I purchased a distressed looking Vanda about 3 weeks ago hoping to bring it back to life. I have no experience caring for Vandas, alas, I am unsure what I am doing wrong. When I first bought the orchid it's leaves were somewhat yellowing and you could see fertilizer dried on the leaves. I live in Calgary Alberta Canada and am growing it indoors. I have it in a window where it gets sun early morning until around 12 noon. Over the weeks that I have had the orchid the leaves have continued to yellow. I am watering it at least once per day as it is very dry where I live. I have tried just spritzing it with water as well as immersing it in the sink full of water for ~10 minutes. I don't want to lose it. I fertilize it every 1-2 weeks. A lot of the roots were dead so I cut them off. Is there any way to help save this Vanda. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Tamara

[Jmoney]

I'm afraid to say that a vanda in distress is not something that is easily revived on a windowsill in the northeast. Almost impossible if you ask me. If the roots are bad, well there's your answer. Keep it humid and shady and hope it develops new ones.

What medium is it in? if it's in a basket it may benefit from moving to a pot with an airy medium.

[orchid-man]

Hi
I go along with your thoughts Jason.
As most of the Vandas require the tempuratures of the Phalies but with alot more light.
Most of the Vandas sold in suppermarkets and the like are just grown to be sold in flower and when the flowers die the plant is discarded.

[Gin]

Since you are in Canada type in Keiki root in a search there is a place in Canada where it is sold . Apply to the stem per directions on the bottle to promote root growth . Gin

[Hoa Tony Nguyen]

Hi Tamara,

Watering the poor thing once a day when the plant is already in distress is not enough. A picture will help us to tell you more. BTW, do you have the name for this vanda. Some vandas got a cool tolerant parent (like many blue ones), they would be easier to deal with. The question now is whether the plant still has any viable roots? If it does, then it can take in moisture and it will survive. I got vandaceous cuttings with no roots before I knew better. Quite a struggle to keep them alive. Eventually I figure out how. It is clear that in order to root out these barerooted vandaceous cuttings (vandas, renanthera, and their hybrids), we need very warm and stable temperatures (76 F at least, above 80F during the day is optimal, night temperature in the high 60s or more), lot and LOT of bright light, and very humid environment.
Cheers. Hoa.

[Tamara]

Thanks everyone for the info.
I can see some new root buds developing which I think is promising. The name of the orchid is V. pattaya delight. I think my biggest hurdle is humidity as Calgary has a very arid climate. Would putting it in a room with a humidifier for a couple of hours a day be an option? Again thanks for the info. I will let you know how it all transpires.
Tamara

[orchid-man]

putting it in a room withw humidifier would be better than nothing.It good to here that see root buds forming.She is on the way to recvery

[ewbie]

Hi! I would like to ask if with the vanda cuttings, what type of fertilizer to be used? Hi- nitro, balance, hi-potas ...? What if the cuttings is already a foot long, is it still considered as young again?
thanks

[orchid-man]

Hi! I would like to ask if with the vanda cuttings, what type of fertilizer to be used? Hi- nitro, balance, hi-potas ...? What if the cuttings is already a foot long, is it still considered as young again?
thanks

ALWAYS use a balanced fertilizer,It doesnt have to be high in any component.A 10/10/10 would do at 1?2 to 1/4 strength if you are feeding 2 to 3 times per week in the growing season.

For a Vanda 12 inches is nothing so I betlieve that it would still be classed as young

[ewbie]

thanks!
but out of curiosity, how many types of fertilizer do you have?
i'm already getting confused coz i have dendrobiums and vandas. someone told me that if my plants are still young i should give a hi-nitro ferti which i gave to my dendrob plants and the young ones, i observed, it has improved a lot in a matter of two weeks! but how about the old ones on the same plant? should i apply a balance ferti to them?
i also applied hi-nitro to my vandas since i apply ferti once a week to all my orchids. but i don't see any difference to them unlike the dendrob.
um, does it mean that what applies to dendrob doesn't necessarily apply to vanda? so should i get a balance ferti for the vanda?
oh well, awaiting for your reply. thanks!