Vanda "strap-leaf" care advice

[orangeppl]

Hello,

I recently purchased a Vanda strap-leaf "yellow butterfly" in bloom from a local garden shop in the Philippines. I've been reading on care instructions in the internet, but most of them are written for growers in temperate climate.

I live in Manila, where it is authentically tropical - it's hot & humid. The sun is scourching when it's high and thunderous when it rains.

I intend to keep the vanda strap-leaf indoors, where it will get morning sun, which is fairly cooler compared to the afternoon sun, which is impossibly lethal. I'm not sure if the morning sun from 7AM to 11AM is sufficiently light, or should I move it to an afternoon sun location with shade.

I've read that they have high watering demands. Would this be the same for a considerably humid climate? I was told by the vendor to water it once a day and no more. However, I'm not sure if watering means soaking in a tub (the internet tells me to do so) or mist with a fine spray?

Your advice is much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[ksriramkumar]

Hello and Welcome from India. You should not have problems with growing strap leaf vanda in Philippines. You can start with east facing 7-11 AM and increase light if required. Coming to watering, you should water the vandas well so that roots are green and full of water and can water more than once a day during real hot days and once a day where it cloudy

[Yug]

I grow them in Hawaii with about 30% shade cloth so the sun won't scorch them during the hottest part of the day. I water once in the morning sometime before 9am, and once again about 2pm if really hot. Some can actually stand full sun, but it takes time to acclimatize them to it. The heat in the leaves is the problem, not necessarily the intensity of the sun. If a breeze is blowing, or a misting system is in use, for me that is sufficient to keep the leaves from burning.

[JDT]

Not much more can be said, mine get watered twice a day for 15 minutes with my irrigation system. Some of my strap leaf ones are in direct south Florida sun all day!

[raybark]

I suggest that you not water them late in the day. As much as possible, the leaves should be dry by nightfall.

[orangeppl]

Hello again, thanks for all your advise. Hope this one thrives well with me.

Although, I've already suffered some bud blast, the last 3 buds didn't bloom and just wilted. I guess this could be from the stress of acclimatising to its new home?

[JDT]

Hello again, thanks for all your advise. Hope this one thrives well with me.
Although, I've already suffered some bud blast, the last 3 buds didn't bloom and just wilted. I guess this could be from the stress of acclimatising to its new home?

It has happened to all of us...

[orangeppl]

I decided to move the Vanda straps outdoors. After a week, I reckon they would be in the garden surrounded by fellow plants, under the shade of the palm trees. And, I realised, they're quite elaborate to keep indoors.

I'll snap a few photos and post them here.

---------- Post Merged at 10:20 AM ----------

I decided to move the Vanda straps outdoors. After a week, I reckon they would be in the garden surrounded by fellow plants, under the shade of the palm trees. And, I realised, they're quite elaborate to keep indoors.

I'll snap a few photos and post them here.