How to Bloom Vandas
Vanda orchids, which are native to India and the Philippines, may be grown in any location that offers exposure to plenty of sunshine, high humidity and year-round warmth. Gardeners in cooler areas may grow them successfully in a conservatory or in a greenhouse. Because of vandas' requirement for lots of sunlight, however, vandas grown in a home must be placed near south-facing windows. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Choose a substrate particularly suited to vandas. Vandas are epiphytes, meaning that they naturally rely on other plants as support without being parasitic. The ideal growing medium for them is a combination of moss, tree bark and nutrients. Ask at your garden store for an epiphyte blend.
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Plant vandas under a tree with a thin canopy or under a lanai. The main reason for failure to bloom is insufficient sunshine, but sunlight must be filtered to prevent burning.
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Water vandas daily. Because they have no bulb, they have no means of retaining water. Look for bright green roots with some shiny tips as an indication that the vandas are getting enough water. Mottled green roots indicate thirst.
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Keep vandas in temperatures of not less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This is particularly important even in some warmer regions in which nighttime temperatures may drop dramatically. Monitor the weather forecast and bring vandas indoors to protect them from cold.
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Fertilize weekly throughout the year as vandas are fast growers. This can be increased to twice weekly during the main growing season, which runs from late spring through summer.
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Spray twice per month with a fungicide and spray new buds with insecticide. Fungus and insects can ruin an otherwise well-maintained vanda and prevent blooming.
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Tips & Warnings
Among vanda orchids, ascocendas are especially easy to grow. Though smaller, they have been known to bloom three or more times a year. They may survive on less sunlight, making them ideal for locations where exposure to the sun is limited.
References
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