Are You Watering Your Vanda's Enough?

Growers of Vandas know that these plants need much water.

But how can you tell if you are giving enough?


Some of the signs of UNDER WATERING are listed below. However, please note that most of these signs can have OTHER meanings also. Be careful, observe your plants, and be aware of your environment.

1. If the leaves do not unfold from the top of the plant, it could be a sign of under watering.

2. Under watering can also cause the leaves to turn pale yellow.

3. Flower spikes fail to mature and bloom.

4. Wrinkling of the leaves.

5. White roots fail to absorb water. If this happens, you may need to soak the roots in water until they turn green.


If you conclude that your Vandas are under watered, you need to make sure that each time you finish watering that your roots have turned completely green. If this does not solve your problem, then you need to increase the frequency of watering also.



Good Growing!

2010 Tamiami International Orchid Festival

Tamiami International Orchid Festival

Jan 30, 2010 (Sat), 9:00am to Jan 31, 2010 (Sun), 4:00pm

Fair Expo 10700 Coral Way, Miami, Florida

Jan. 30th - 31st 2010 - Tamiami International Orchid Festival, 10700 Coral Way, Miami, Florida, now the largest winter event in Florida. Contact Martin Motes at martinmotes@gmail.com for additional information.

HOW TO WATER VANDA'S IN MIAMI

Everyone always asks, "How should I water my orchid".

The answer to that question is, "It depends."

This article is about how to water Vanda's in Miami.

There are a few general things you should know about watering Vanda's. First about the environment: What time of year is it? How dry is it? How much breeze is blowing? What time of day is it? All of these environmental issues will affect how you should water your Vanda. So a Vanda grower needs to OBSERVE his plants and his environment.

Second, you need to realize that your Vanda wants to get a LOT of moisture, but it does not like to STAY wet. Sounds like a contradiction, doesnt' it? However, it is so true. So water EARLY in the day. Then the plant has a chance to dry before nightfall and does not STAY wet overnight. You want to water when the ROOTS are dry and when they have a "white" looking color. If humidity is low in early spring and the temperature is rising, you may need to water more than once per day. During the summer downpours in Miami, you may not need to water at all; and, you pray that those afternoon rains do not start some kind of fungus to grow because the plants are wet overnight. In the cooler months, you may find that you need to skip a day or two of watering.

Third, what kind of "pot" and "media" are you growing your media in. Generally, the more your "pot" or "media" holds moisture, the less you will need to water. But beware, since Vanda's do not like to STAY wet, in Miami I have found it best to have only a plastic or wooden basket with NO MEDIA. But this is an entirely different topic. Just beware that the "pot" and "media" can affect your watering and how long your plant and roots stay wet.


So how do you water a Vanda? The following are GENERAL guidelines. You should ADJUST your habits based upon the information above and what you OBSERVE about your environment and plants.

In Miami, generally,

1. You will probably need to water most EVERY DAY. This is not a rule. There are exceptions.

2. Apply the water to the plant just long enough to get the water dripping off of the plant and the roots.

3. Now you need to FORGET about the plant and go and do something else. Stroll around your yard, pick up some leaves or palm fronds, pull some weeds, or have a cup of coffee.

4. REMEMBER to come back and water AGAIN just like before. Generally, somewhere after 10 to 20 minutes, you should apply water again just until the water is dripping off of the plant and the roots. Do NOT let the water run continuously on the plant and roots.

5. Do step 2, 3, & 4 over and over again UNTIL your roots are COMPLETELY GREEN. The picture above is how your VANDA roots should look when you get done watering. OBSERVATION is key.


I hope this helps you keep your Vanda's happy and healthy. Good Growing!

Vandaceous Orchids in Bloom

Three more vandaceous orchids in bloom. I have doubts about the red one. The tag says it is a cross between V. Fuchs Delight and Ascocenda Yip Sum Wah. This would make it an Ascocenda Fuchs Royal Dragon. But it looks too red in color to me. Looks more like Ascocenda Yip Sum Wah without the Fuchs Delight.

The tangerine colored one is Mokara Moonlight 'Tangerine'. This one needs as much light as you can give it without burning it, otherwise it just does not bloom. With enough light, it will bloom twice a year. And it almost always blooms with two spikes just like this one.

The orange colored one is Ascocenda Banjongs Delight. The flowers are very flat and are so strong that they look like wax. I have not been very sucessful in getting this to bloom on a regular basis; however, I have been giving it more water and more light and it gave this beautiful bloom this year. Notice that there are still some buds to open.

Ascocenda Mary's Lemon Drop

This particular hybrid will bloom two to three times per year, most often in the summer months. However, it will also bloom in the fall or early winter, usually once. It has very vigorous roots. I have three of these starting to bloom now. This picture is one of my blooms this past summer. The picture was taking July 3, 2009.

They need usual Vanda-type care, but can be more susceptible to leaf-spotting fungus than many vandaceous orchids.

Good Growing!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I received an "orchid tip" yesterday that I had not heard before.

The recommendation was to never grow an orchid in a glazed pot. The reason was that there are toxic materials in the glaze and these materials can weaken or even evtually kill your orchid. If one wants to display an orchid in a glazed pot, have the orchid either in a plastic pot or a natural clay pot that slips inside the glazed pot.

What has been your experience?

What do you think?

Orchid Show in Ft Lauderdale - Bonnet House

Saturday and Sunday, December 5 & 6, 2009 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.


Bonnet House Museum & Gardens will be hosting its third annual Orchid Fair in December! An exciting line up of local orchid and exotic plant vendors will highlight this unique sale in the Bonnet House Grove. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is located at 900 N. Birch Road just south of Sunrise Blvd. between A1A and the Intracoastal on Fort Lauderdale beach. For more information please visit us at www.BonnetHouse.org or call (954) 563-5393

Epicyclia Serena Oneill

ORCHID SHOW

The 64th MIAMI INTERNATIONAL ORCHID SHOW

February 26 - February 28, 2010

Doubletree Miami Mart/Airport Hotel and Exhibition Center
711 N.W. 72 Avenue
Miami, FL

305-261-3800

Do not miss it. One of the best!

Ascocenda Motes Burning Sands

Orchid Advice

When you first start growing orchids, it seems like that the first-timer has questions about everything. I know I did. What became confusing to me is that many times different people gave different answers to the same question.

First, it is important to realize that there are so many different types of orchids that require different types of care. The same question may receive a differnt answer depending on the type of orchid. Also, each grower has his/her own unique climate and habits. Both of these can affect how you care for your orchids. Finally, there are different ways to accomplish the same goal and each may work.

So what is the practical advice regarding all of these different kinds of advice.

1. If what you are doing works, do not change it because of someone else's advice. Stick with what works for you.

2. If what you are doing does not work, use some of that advice to try different approaches and find out what works for you.

HAPPY GROWING!!!

Thrips

With the prolonged warm weather in South Florida, Thrips can still remain a problem for your orchids. They can particularly damage Vanda blooms and even attack the Vanda roots. Beware of Thrips in South Florida when it is hot/warm and dry.