Get rid of the moss. 30 minute soak may be a lot. But do it in the morning so it can dry. If you soak the plants in the same container that is a no no. If one has pathogens then they all do. The vanda is the most sensitive to cold. They like 50 and higher and like a lot of sun. Good luck.

Thanks SM - I'm only soaking the vanda (not my other orchids), and I do that in the mornings. How long would you recommend that I soak it?

Yes, I agree with Harvey. I just hit them with the hose in the morning. You don't need to soak them. I have a spray bottle with fertilizer mixed in it. I spray the roots every now and then.

I'm not great at fertilizing. But I hit all my orchids with the hose. I have a bunch of mounted plants besides the Vandas. The hose is the easiest for me.

Jane

Funny thing is, when I first brought it home, I would water it with the hose, but I couldn't imagine that was enough water! A hose is much easier, though, so thank you both!

Update: I have a spike!! So excited - even though I have no idea what color it'll be.

Very nice reward for loving your orchid! Does it have a name?

No name yet, as I wanted to make sure it would even survive at my house. Once it blooms, maybe I can ID it, and a name will evolve from there.

Hi

Flowering probably won't help with a name . There are a gazillion hybrids of the strap leaf types and they keep producing more lol

vandas are my favorite types of orchids . though I find the terete types will flower more and are easier to grow .

About 5 years ago I shut down my GH and moved most of them out to a" bed" between two conjoined palms Have around 10 types in the group. While they have grown well in fact a strap x mokara hybrid is over 8 feet tall!! Flowering has been disappointing Teretes will flower 8/10 months out of the year but not in this group. I'm hoping the reason for low flowering is because the palms were still immmature so provided too much shade . Maybe next year?? lol Good luck with yours gary

Shavedmonkey...you got my attention...why get rid of the moss?

A little moss won't hurt if used as decoration. Vandas like to get wet but need to dry out. That is why morning watering is recommended. Vandas do not want any potting material. Typically they are potted in an empty hanging basket.

I just realized that I never posted a picture of the flower - I was so pleased :-)

Thanks for the update.

tj

I'm in Georgia and have much Spanish moss, grows like a weed. It actually helps mine in hot summers, holding moisture, but I never soak plants, i use a sprayer and keep up with watering pretty regularly.. Also, my lizards love weaving thru the moss, napping.

That would be good for summer but what about other seasons? We get hot summers too. On those excessive days water morning and afternoon. I use a water wand. it has a shower head that softens the spray but lets out a lot of water. A good tool. I think the moss will work for the summer but may cause problems the rest of the year...Beautiful flower.