Water and Fertilizer
 

Most growers in the Houston area underwater their Vandas. They are difficult to over-water. Most or all need to be grown in open baskets or on plaques. These plants need daily water for ten to fifteen minutes minimum or several waterings during each day. Two successful growers immediately pop into mind. One rings a greenhouse alarm to clear the growing area of people. The water sprinklers come on and water for ten to fifteen minutes with large volumes of water. The roots will turn a solid, dark green indicating that they have absorbed their limit of water. The baskets hang seven foot in the air and the roots of all the plants almost touch the rock-covered ground. The plants are very healthy and well grown.
 

Most growers cannot afford to run large volumes of water over plants for ten to fifteen minutes for several reasons. Our yards would flood and water would run into the street. A second reason is the cost of water. Even though we have very low water prices in the Houston area with no limits on use, the cost would be noticed on the water bill.
 

The second grower uses a more practical method. He has a timer that opens and sprays his orchids two to three minutes three times daily.
 

So, why do Vandas require so much water, where as other orchids can be very healthy with much less. Vandas have roots that take in water and fertilizer at a very slow rate. Also the roots are large and present less surface area. Third, many of the roots are hanging in empty air and not attached to media. Maximum absorption occurs where the root contacts and adheres to media of some type. So provide twice as much fertilizer and extra water.
 

Potting
 

Do not pot Vandas. The roots are limited, large, stiff and will break and tear when you remove the plant during repotting. Vandas tend to stop growing and flowering when theirs roots are repotted or disturbed. If damaged, roots will take many months or years to resume healthy, productive growth. All orchid roots absorb the maximum amount of water and nutrients where the roots attach to media. Time is necessary for the roots to grow again and attach. The best solution is to remove all rotten or loose basket wood and set the plant and remaining basket into a larger wooden basket. Incidentally, there are new black, plastic baskets marketed as Vanda baskets. We will have to grow orchids in a few to determine how well they grow Vandas.
 

Light
 

Most Vandas, except Vanda coerulea, grow in hot, bright tropical climates. Provide more light than Cattleyas but do not give excessive amounts. Vanda sanderiana, an ancestor in most of our Vandas, is from the island of Mindanao in the Philippines 5 degrees above the equator. They grow in the tops of hardwood trees. The sun shines during the morning with a rain in the afternoon and occasional cloud cover. About sixty to seventy percent of the time there is cloud cover. Direct light lasts for short periods of time. The humidity averages eighty to eighty one percent.
 

Thailand, Florida and parts of Hawaii grow the best Vandas because of constant, year round temperature and light. Thailand growers use slat houses with one inch slats and one inch spaces to block out of the light. Hawaiian and Florida growers use shade cloth to accomplish the same growing conditions. Houston has the same light conditions except during the months of December, January and February. These months can be the most troubling. We need to remove shade cloth and provide as much light as possible during the many cloudy, overcast days. However, occasional cold fronts blow through clearing out the sky providing very bright direct sunlight. Burning often occurs on these bright, cold days, because our greenhouses are closed and air movement is below normal.
 

Terete leafed types will do well in direct sunlight, but the Rhynchostylis, Vandopsis and Neofinetia species and some hybrids need lower Cattleya light.
 

Buying Plants
 

Vandas will take four to eight years to mature and produce large flowers. If you do not wish to wait this long buy ascocendas, which are hybrids between Vandas and ascocentrums. Ascocentrums flower early, around three years, with many small flowers on small, charming plants. The hybrids are a compromise with fewer, larger, earlier flowers.
 

Flowering
 

With good culture, most flower twice each year. A few flower when growths are mature and healthy. Others will flower continuously if excellent culture is observed. The flower inflorescences will emerge between the fourth and fifth leaf from the top. Vanda coerulea hybrids display flowers well above the foliage, tend to have blue, tesselated flowers and grow less tropical. Many inflorescences need support and grooming, as they are quite heavy. If you like to water and fertilize orchids, perhaps Vandas are for you.