I recently bought a Vanda from a grower who told me he watered his twice DAILY. Wooden baskets dry out very fast, especially if there is minimal compost, which is what they seem to like. I shouldn't worry as long as the temp stays high.

I can't imagine rot being a problem outdoors no matter how much it rains. As was said above, as long as things warm up decently in the day you shouldn't need to worry. I have to ask though, if there is a GH available why aren't the Vanda's in it? And the Catts and Dends why did they come outside? Space? Temps?

H

When it rains non-stop, my vandas are happily growing. This is the time the growth is the best - no matter whether it rains day or night.

Olya

OK, thanks everyone, you've put this 'worrywort's' mind at rest!

Howard,my GH is very small and serves me only for the winter months. I can heat it when necessary, but cooling it doesn't work! Our summer temps are just too hot for the building I use, actually a glass house. I have an attached screen house where all the lower light plants stay during the summer and do well. But the high light guys I try to keep outside. Rain this time of year is very unusual for us, my rain barrels are overflowing :))). Since you've given me an OK, I'm going to put the rhyncostylis plants out too and let them enjoy all the rain. Happy growing. Sheila :)

Sheila
My experience is much like Olya .Summertime with heat and lots of rain I get the best growth. I grow terete strap and hybrids.in several locations but all are exposed to rain. Have had strap leaf types actually grow roots down into the water into a pond with no ill effects in fact in seemed to have helped. lol
There is a thread going on water culture of vandas but have never tried it on purpose just the one that put roots into the water..Was not brave enough to allow it to continue to see what would happen lol gary

Mine like it a lot, they are all green after yesterday's rain, but I go and tip the water out of them as many as I can, and the VIP ones gets the water out of the crown when it is done raining. I am sure it would not make any diff even if I did not do it.

Actually, Sambac, that is exactly why I searched for this question! So glad you mentioned that!

DOES it make any difference if water sits in the crown and leaves after a good rain?

Anyone? Should I make sure to tip it over to drain after the rain? Will it rot if not?

Yes, it does matter if you are still growing outdoors, since it is now Oct instead of the middle of July in the hot summer. I suggest you religiously tip the water out. Indoors, water should never be left in the leaf axils.

This non-stop rain is killing me, I have tilted all the Vanda's a little so water flows out of the crown and axils. I also left all the mounted phals outside- so far they are doing well.
Well psychopis... gives me pyschosis to think about it- I think I have lost one more to this rainy season. Try again next year!

just a suggestion: have you tried to hang the Vandas unside down in the rain? you may not have to worry about rot then.

sue

In thirty years of growing orchids outside in S Florida with all the rainy weather the vandas have been exposed to, I have experienced crown rot on TWO plants, and I have several hundred vandas. I do NOT bother tipping or any special attention to them. I DO use protek on a regular basis, and prophylactic systemic fungicide to prepare for our rainy season.

Plants upside down sounds like an interesting thought. I'm going to see if I can do that. I just had a weak moment and bought another vanda 'baggie' at HD. Is there such a thing as 'Orchids Annonymous'? I was just telling friends a couple weeks back that I was dreading the move back into my small GH, they're not going to FIT! Well, I've bought five more plants in the past two weeks! I'm sick, sick, sick!

Sheila

Hi Alberta -- glad to hear from you -- and if she says its so its so --