Size does matter.

16 years ago

10 years ago I bought a Vanda, a bluish/purplish hybrid. The vendor displayed a 'sample plant' with beautiful 4 1/2" flowers. He wanted $400 for that plant, but the little ones were the usual $20 or so, that's what I took home. After waiting a few years it bloomed with very disappointing 3" or smaller flowers. It faithfully kept blooming and as the years went by the flowers got bigger and bigger. It probably reached it's maximum size of 4 1/2" flowers 3 years ago.

It also started a keiki at that time and right now both the keiki and mom are blooming at the same time. The first bloom for the keiki is full size, same as mom, a nice display.

I initially was disappointed at the small flowers, similar disappointment was expressed by others in our society who found small flowers on plants which were represented to have larger ones. At that time none of us seemed to know that Vandas get successively larger flowers as they get older until they reach maximum size.

Mom is getting tall, I need to find a new home for them. I know many of the Floridians in the group grow them well. What's the best way to handle a tall Vanda with a gaggle of roots hanging down at least a foot. I would like to have it sitting on the ground tied to a stake but am not sure how to do it. Was planning a large pot full of gravel with a sizable stake secured by the weight of the rock. Then placing the plant on top of all of this so that the roots never get planted in the rock, instead are draped on top of it. The bottom of the plant would be at least 8" above the rock. Another little wrinkle is that there is a 4" basket in the middle of the gaggle of roots which would have to stay. Getting it out would seriously damage the root ball.

Any other suggestions?

Nick

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Comments (5)

highjack
16 years ago
I use landscape lava rock in my vanda types. I don't have to use tons of water to wet the roots because the lava rock holds ample moisture. I've never been a fan of long dangling roots.

On sunless days I can skip the watering since the rocks are still moist. With the uneveness of the rocks in the containers, there is ample air. I've never lost a root with this method.

Brooke
stefpix
16 years ago
where do you buy landscape lava rock? price and size?
thanks

stefano
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highjack
16 years ago
You can get it at big box stores in the mulch section, cheap and walnut size, some bigger and smaller.

Brooke
garyfla_gw
16 years ago
Hi
I was given a broken section of what she described as a "deep purple spotted Vanda." was put in the usual slat basket in the shadehouse finally flowered this spring though only 3 flowers.Two were 5.5 inches across stem was as large as a finger had to lower it has the stem was growing through the roof. Naturally had a rainstorm destroying all three flowers lol.
It's already over two feet with roots hanging down 3 feet. have no idea what it is besides hybrid strap leaf lol Must be some "Kaseems delight" somewhere mainly because of the DEEP purple color.
It's going out into my "Vanda Hedge " where I keep 7 types of Vandas located between two queen palms. been there 3 years now and a terete /strap hybrid is a bit over 8 feet while the teretes are pushing ten. May have made a mistake as the roots find the palm fibers perfect rooting media. Will never remove them again for sure. Palm is now tall enough to provide full sun except for noon so expect even better growth. Flowering has been disappointing but it was a brutal winter and since the palm was short too much shade.
I love vandas as they are my most reliable but are a real pain on where to locate them. What a terrible growth habit. lol Can't help with your ?? as I get rot particularly in summer except in empty slat baskets .
The "hedge" idea came from some pix a friend sent me from the Singapore Bo grdns . gary
sambac
16 years ago
Putting in a big pot with rock/ gravel sounds like an idea.
One of my large vanda is hugging the pool fence, now it is 4 feet tall. The roots are hugging the fence or they hit the ground and grow into the mulch- I let them do it- no problem with root rot etc. Other option- they sell the rods(with hook) to hang landscape lights- they are about 5 feet tall I guess- you hang the contraption from the hook , if that is possible.