Orchids are flowering plants with over 28,000 species in the Orchidaceaefamily, with four times as many orchid species as mammal species. To care for the Vanda orchid, follow these steps: water them more than other types of orchids, keep humidity levels high between 60 and 80%, and water them twice per day for about 10 minutes each time. On very hot days, offer a third water just before 11am. The goal is to provide the roots the opportunity to absorb as much water as possible.
To maintain moderate temperatures, plant Vandas on trees or let them hang. Watering should be done when the root is grayed, and the potting mix is dry to the touch. Vanda orchids need 0.5 cups of water every 9 when they don’t get direct sunlight and are potted in a 5″ pot. Use a water calculator to personalize watering recommendations.
Watering Vanda orchids thoroughly but not too often, allowing the potting mix to dry out completely between waterings. For bare root Vandas, wet or mist daily, while potted Vandas should be watered just as the medium dries out and the media is lightly damp to the touch. This occurs every 5 to 7 days from the previous watering.
In a greenhouse, water daily regardless of whether the plant is potted, hanging basket, or mounted. Use lukewarm water and water temperature below 50F. Vanda orchids need frequent watering in the warmer months and less often in the colder months. When the roots are a silver-grey color, water them. There are three main ways to water Vanda orchids: watering twice per day, using a sprayer, and drenching the entire plant a few times per watering to allow the plant to sop up as much water as possible.
📹 How to water Vanda orchids – tips for a healthy orchid
Vanda orchids are some of the most beautiful orchids you can grow. However, they can be a bit tricky to water if not kept in a …
Can you overwater a Vanda orchid?
Watering Vanda’s is crucial for their health and growth. Overwatering can cause fungus and pest issues, while underwatering can leave them dehydrated and droopy. Vandas should be watered twice daily for about 10 minutes each time, with a third watering just before 11am on hot days. The goal is to allow the roots to absorb moisture over a short period, rather than an extended soaking.
Upon receiving Vandas, they should have active root growth on their tips. If there are brown or yellow roots that look shriveled or thin, they are likely dead and not actively absorbing water. However, there is no need to cut them off. As long as Vandas have more “good” roots than “bad”, they will absorb moisture.
When first watering Vanda roots, allow water to run off the roots tips for a few seconds before moving on to the next plant. Some roots may green up immediately, while others may not. If caring for a large collection of orchids, water each orchid until water run-off, then return to the first plant and water a second time.
If using an irrigation system, run it for 5-10 minutes, 2-3 times per day to allow the plants time to absorb water. Watering frequency is equally important, with early morning watering before 10am and evening watering after 5pm. Midday watering before noon can also help avoid watering at the hottest parts of the day. Watering at different times of the day and even overnight can help maintain airflow and prevent plants from staying wet for an extended period.
Do Vanda orchids like full sun?
Vanda, a high-light orchid, requires extended bright to very bright light to remain vigorous and produce flowers. In New York City, a south-facing window is best for all Vanda types. Terete types with pencil-like leaves need full sun exposure, while strap-leaf and semi-terete types need protection from direct light. A light meter can measure the light exposure of a potential growing area, with a bright, sunny day out of doors measuring 10, 000 foot-candles and a south-facing window around 5, 000 foot-candles. LED artificial light can be used to supplement light, but it should be gradually increased and not placed too close to avoid burning the plant.
What is the best way to take care of a Vanda orchid?
Vanda orchids thrive in high humidity, bright light, high temperatures, and good airflow. They should be grown in balconies or terraces with abundant light and airflow. However, direct sunlight can damage the plants, so shade cloth is recommended. Vanda plants cannot be grown in ordinary soil mix due to their large and hard roots. Instead, use a large basket for air circulation and add soilless mediums like bark and peat to keep roots in place. If you’re looking for Vanda orchids for sale, visit Orchid Tree to get them safely and in perfect health delivered to your doorstep.
What is the lifespan of a Vanda orchid?
Vanda orchids have a cycle of growth and death, with flowers dying back and the flower spike drying up. The plant then focuses on growing taller or growing another spike until it dies. Vanda orchids can live for 15-20 years. The “dormant” stage is when the flower focuses on creating new roots or lacks nutrients for faster growth. The plant doesn’t go dormant as long as its needs are met, and its energy is directed based on the flowering cycle and the orchid’s environment, including temperature and daylight. Vanda orchids are forgiving with their blooms, so if they have had trouble in the past, they will produce beautiful blooms next time. To improve the blooms, follow these tips:
- Water the plant regularly, ensuring it gets enough sunlight and proper care.
- Fertilize the plant with a balanced diet of nutrients and vitamins.
- Water the orchid regularly, but not too much.
Is rain water good for Vanda orchids?
Rainy season can be beneficial for orchids, as it can stimulate new growths, leaves, and roots, as well as develop spikes and sheaths. Experienced orchid hobbyists often collect rainwater in clean storage tanks and water their orchids throughout the year. However, it is important to be cautious when exposing your orchids to rain, as some may face health issues. To ensure your orchids remain safe and healthy, follow these six care tips:
Water your orchids regularly, even during the rainy season. This will help prevent fungi and bacteria from growing on your plant, which can lead to diseases.
Regularly check for any signs of pests or diseases, such as fungi or diseases, and take necessary steps to protect them.
How often should I water my Vanda?
Vandas, or orchids, should be watered daily, especially if grown bare root. For potted Vandas, watering occurs when the medium dries out and is lightly damp to the touch, every 5 to 7 days. Small plants in clay pots can dry out within a couple of days. Watering Vandas more often during blooming and throughout the blooming period is recommended. When repotting Vandas during the active growing season, water the media for at least 7 days to prevent root cuts and breaks from rotting.
Watering in the morning allows leaves to dry and avoids bacterial growth overnight. If possible, use low-alkalinity water, such as rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water. If you have a dehumidifier, the water collected in the tray is excellent for watering orchids. Green Jungle Orchid Food is recommended for providing orchids with the nutrients they would naturally encounter in their wild habitats. This fertilizer works best with low-alkalinity water, but tap water may be used.
How long can Vanda orchids go without water?
Vandas, or orchids, should be watered daily, especially if grown bare root. For potted Vandas, watering occurs when the medium dries out and is lightly damp to the touch, every 5 to 7 days. Small plants in clay pots can dry out within a couple of days. Watering Vandas more often during blooming and throughout the blooming period is recommended. When repotting Vandas during the active growing season, water the media for at least 7 days to prevent root cuts and breaks from rotting.
Watering in the morning allows leaves to dry and avoids bacterial growth overnight. If possible, use low-alkalinity water, such as rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water. If you have a dehumidifier, the water collected in the tray is excellent for watering orchids. Green Jungle Orchid Food is recommended for providing orchids with the nutrients they would naturally encounter in their wild habitats. This fertilizer works best with low-alkalinity water, but tap water may be used.
What is the best watering schedule for orchids?
Watering your orchid every 7 to 11 days, especially when the mix is dry, is essential to prevent damage and prevent overwatering, which can lead to crown rot, root rot, and other infestations. Watering in the morning is recommended as nighttime watering can leave water sitting for a period. Additionally, consider the temperature of your house, as high thermostats may cause the orchid to grow in summer. Visit our shop to see beautiful phalaenopsis orchids grown in the south coast of England, and sign up for our newsletter to access our orchids at discounted prices when we have grown a few too many.
How to rehydrate Vanda orchids?
The interior medium is notably desiccated, resulting in a slight degree of buoyancy that is deemed acceptable. It is advised that the aforementioned conditions be maintained for a minimum of one hour.
How often should I water hanging Vanda orchids?
In order to maintain optimal health for your hanging Vanda, it is essential to mist its roots and leaves with water on a daily basis. This can be accomplished by utilizing an in-home vase or bucket. It is imperative to adhere to the recommended care procedures for acrylic or glass vandas, ensuring that the container is thoroughly cleaned. The orchid should be fertilized with a water-soluble fertilizer, following the instructions on the packaging. For further information regarding the optimal conditions for maintaining an orchid, please refer to the section on general orchid care.
Do Vanda roots need light?
Vandas, a type of orchid, require light for growth and flowering. They should not be grown indoors due to their size, lack of light, and low humidity. However, other vandaceous plants like Ascocentrum and Neofinetia can be grown in direct sunlight indoors or in a greenhouse. In a greenhouse, 50-100 full sun or 53, 750+ lumens is ideal. Southern climates need 25-35 shade cloth, while northern growers can expose most species to full sun without issue.
Temperature needs depend on the hybrid/species, with Vandas generally preferring warm to hot conditions. Higher day temperatures can be tolerated with increased humidity, water, air circulation, and shading.
📹 Vanda Watering Routine – How Long Should I Soak My Vandas?
My partner and I have created an App for the iPhone called „Orchid Collection”. Keep detailed track of your orchid collection and …
I mist daily and dunk them in a bucket once a week or when I have time. The misting method helps since they are inside tall clear vases. One vanda, a big seedling, is very fickle though. It does not show a signs of vigorous growth. It does have dark tips on most of its roots which I remember as a sign of some growth. My other vanda has thick roots creeping all over. The neofinetia is quite a unique one some have them grown in bark, some grow them exclusively on sphagnum moss and others have them in a mix of bark and moss. I currently have mine in bark and it acts like a phalaenopsis/cattleya.
You have such beautiful, healthy Vandas… very impressive, as usual. I can’t do the daily watering thing, so I grow mine in wooden baskets along with media. I experimented, unsuccessfully, early on with both hydroton and large bark chips; but I’ve been using lava rock for over a year now. I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants or needs to use media at all. I chose pieces that were too large to fall through the spaces between the slats, naturally. Using the lava rock, along with two Air-O-Swiss humidifiers that I use in Winter only, have allowed me to be able to water just once a week. Another lesson I learned the hard way is to never order any Vandas in the Winter, lol. For whatever reason, sellers tend to pack the roots in wet sphagnum moss… this, combined with lower temperatures in transit, tends to produce a specimen with rotten roots on arrival. 🙁
Hello Dani.I am really,really thankful for your articles😃.In the past,when I didn’t know much about orchids,I killed a few.Oops😰.Your articles helped me a lot.I first started with Phals,Dendrobiums and now I recently bought a Vanda😁.Hope it survive well in my flat.Orchids have become addiction to me although I don’t have much space(wish I have😭).Anyway,can you please make a article on how to fertilize a Vanda?My vanda is hanging freely in a basket and I have no idea how to fertilize it.😄.Once again,thank you for your articles😄
I just purchased a Vanda yesterday an did not know it had to be so cared for. I’m up for it an went to the store to get distilled water. I’am soaking it in the bucket, an have it in my sunroom. It will get a lovely breeze during the day an living in Florida we have very high humidity. Hoping I have as much luck as you do . Your flowers are beautiful. That’s for all the hints on keeping them healthy. Should I spray the leaves???? Is my only question. You didn’t mention taht in yr article. Lindap
Hun an I that was so helpful I actually decided this morning to hang my vandals in the house and dunked them and believe it or not in several hours they are all silvery again I think I need a bigger bucket and today is the sunniest Britain has been in a long time it’s about 20 outside so I decided to put them outside for an hour to gain some sun and they loved it btw I have no idea if my vandals are suited to home environment as I bought thm from schwerter
For most of my vandas there is not a bucket large enough! And when I used to water in a bucket that’s how I passed through serrium to two of my vandas! You have to have a designated bucket for each separate plant and most of mine are so large that a 5 gallon bucket is not big enough! So I use a garden sprayer to saturate them inside a grow tent in my basement which keeps the humidity up above 75% at all times!
With your suggestion of not allowing water to sit inbetween the leaves, is this no longer an issue you have found? In the newer article regarding Vanda’s that had been left while you had some family issues you mentioned hosing them and not having an issue. Are you just hosing the root or the whole plant?
hey there!thank you for the article!! I saw your vanda also had a keiki at the base and you sinked it in the bucket..is that ok?? mine also has one much bigger than yours and I am thinking about separating them…do you have any idea how to do it or is there a article available for that?? I am finding it difficult to specify the cutting point and how to separate all the roots….thank you again!ps: i think mine could be an ascoscenda and not a vanda…might have to write to you about id issues! many many kisses from a Greek girl in Germany
Hi Danny I had a question about watering Vanda orchids I was hoping you could help me answer. I bought my Venda in a clay pot filled with coconut bark a few months ago. I’ve been watering it once a week for the last few months now and it’s been growing quite well, The roots have been growing a few inches within the last few months. My question is should I water it everyday as you suggested? Or should I keep watering it once a week as I have been doing so long as there’s still new growth? Side note I live in a apartment in Bangkok Thailand. My balcony gets about 4 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Hi, i bought a vanda plant two weeks back. I am watering it as you advised by dunking the roots in a bucket for 15 mts but only once a day. It is kept in a bright area but without direct sunlight falling on leaves. Now I notice that leaves tips are looking ragged around the edges and some leaves are splitting in the middle. Please advice
Hello, I am Maria. I have a problem with my Wanda…it seems good, the leaves are growing, but not the roots! From the moment I get her she blooms but there is no new root coming out, I hang it in front of the window, but nothing no roots! What can I do? I water my Wanda every day in a bucket for 15 minutes. Thank you so much.
hi!!! i just bought my first orchid-vanda.. without any research… and due to language barrier i failed to understand that i have to water vanda everyday in hot humid bangkok weather. it already had a lot of brown roots.. quite long ones.. i just found your website and immediately soaked my vanda in water… could you please tell me what to do with 80% roots of this plant that appears dead (dark brown)
I found a beautiful Vanda (gorgeous flowers) at a store the other day but the main stem was blackening as and a few roots right next to the stem were solid black. Have you ever seen this and would a plant like this likely die? I really wanted it but felt it was a high risk as I wasn’t sure if it was a fungus.
I just got my first Vanda a couple of days ago. Do you ever notice a yellowing and drooping of the bottom leaves? Are these orchids particularly sensitive to water on their leaves? It seems that after I leave it in a bucket for 15 min. or so the bottom leaves get more yellow. As far as I can remember they were partly yellow to begin with. But they seemed to have gotten more yellow since. The plant is flowering and growing new roots. There were a few dead ones that I cleaned up when I first got it. The upper leaves seem to be doing just fine, except for one yellow spot on the top that may or may not have been there when I got it. I’m drying the bottom leaves afterwards now to see if that makes a difference.
hi Dani my vanda orchid has lots of new root tips and three new leaves growing so i think its doing well. i was away for 5 days and hoped it would be ok but when i got back the leaves were wrinkled and wilting. afters days of daily dunking in water the leaves still look terrible but there still growth. should i be worried?
Deni, I just got my fist Vanda (aeridovanda Diana Eu) the first thing I did was water it it really, really needed it. I set it in a large bowl a bit.then I did inspect it I have several good roots but a also have a Lot of what I’m pretty sure are dead ones I’m really not sure about cutting the dead ones do I leave them or cut?
Hi Dani! i’m Ghedd i was Wondering since i live in the Philippines and Vandas live in this kind of tropical country i am still having problems with my vanda, the first problem is that my vanda’s leaves are wrinkled even when i used the dunking method that i watched from your website and the second one is that should i always do the dunking method everytime my vanda orchid’s roots are all silvery? Plss Dani i needed your help because i am still a beginner in growing vanda orchids Thank You! 🙂
I bought two beautiful Vandas from Lowe’s hardware, my first orchids. I paid $30 for two; is that a decent price? I am currently spraying the hanging roots (no pots) with untreated but seemingly good well water. Both Vanda’s seem happy as can be in my greenhouse. Do these need any fertilizer or nutrients.
Hi Danni, thank you for the information. I have a question. My Vanda orchid is about the size on the one you have here in this article. I bought it online. Well my plant roots are about 25 inches long and its is all intertwined with healthy roots and decaying roots. I tried my best to remove as much of the dead and decaying roots, and untangle it a bit. The roots are mossy looking and dark in colour and is still in the same pot I would say about 3 years or so. I would like to remove it from this pot, what is your suggestion and whats the easiest way you think. This is my first vanda orchid. Thank you.
Hey Dani, I have 2 vandas, I bought them from the seller about 6 months ago. He told me to mist the roots about once or twice a week, so that’s what I was doing. Then I saw your articles and only recently (maybe about 2 weeks now) I have been soaking the vandas in a bucket for 20 minutes 2x daily. BUT I have a problem, after the roots dry off from being watered they look very brittle. And in many points of the healthy roots they look splintered. Many of the roots will turn dark green and appear healthy after they are watered, but as soon as they dry off- they become brittle like I could snap them. Will the roots recover? Is it good for them to have so much water after going so long without having enough? Thanks!
I live in Florida and have a well and therefore a water softening system. I have not fertilized my Vanda in two months because I thought that is what caused the black root tips. There has been root growth but the tips quickly go black. I could have a fungus. Should I use hydrogen peroxide or a copper fungicide? Could the softened water be causing it?
Hello miss orchid girl. please help me . I have a Vanda that she is about 36in long but something is wrong . she has about 24 inches with no leaf on it and it looks dry. she has about 3 good roots on her. my daughther said that its dying.the leaf are green and a new one is coming out but the leaf are a little wrinkle. I live in Miami Fla where is hot and humit.Please Help.
I have my Vanda hung in my bathroom so whenever someone takes a shower the steam from the shower provides moisture and high humidity. I do have it hanging in green wire basket and use my shower head to soak the roots keeping the water temperature like warm. I have a large shower and am planning on hanging it in the back corner of my shower between the two frosted windows. No water reach the plant directly. Do you think this will be a proper environment for it?
hello I wanted to know what kind of water do you use and what about watering in winter time my vanda is new and it got 2 leaves that turned yellow from the stem for the humidity I keep it in my bathroom at night and hanging on my window during the day in the living room I am scared because of these leaves I didn’t bath it yet I spray it, I put cinnamon just in case it was fungus please help thanks for your answers
Buna Dana. M-ar interesa un update acum ca ti-ai mutat Vanda in hydroten si in ghiveci de lut. Am un puiut de Vanda, e Pachara delight si nu am umezeala deloc in casa si creste chiar f incet. Din ianuarie anul asta pana acum a dat o noua frunza ce are acum 5 cm. Oare ar fi mai bine inorganic media sau dunking method pentru a creste mai repede?! Mersi mult!
Hi miss orchid girl im ian from the philippines i just wanna ask whats the solution for rotting leaves cause my vanda robert delight blue is rotting leaves when a new crown is rising the lower leaves rot it will start with small black spots until it inhabit all the leaves and can i put it or stick it to the wood with direct sunlight??hope you can help me plss😊God bless😃
Hello, I live in the tropics and am going on vacation for 1 week. There is no one to water my Vandas which are hanging in baskets. I added some sphagnum moss in the basket and will water them (using your dunking method. Thanks for the tip) before I leave. Do you have any suggestions on how I can keep them “moist” and happy?
hi BB, just in time for my comment! my pink vanda pachara went soaking more than 24 hours because I forgot it! i was in my bed when suddenly I noticed it was missing. so I flew out to the small bathroom where it soaks usually for 1 hour every day. I can only telk you that although the spike grew enormously during that period, all the many smaller green rout tips had now broqn tips! si I am deducing that roots can be damaged by oversoaking. good thing I have many new thick roots in in development which are perfectly fine. So another conclusion from this accident: smaller roots can be damaged (the ones that branch off the thick main roots) while the great big ones will not. so depends on thickness of the root too.
Thank you for all your advice on caring for orchids. I was recently given a number of orchids by friends who were moving. I’ve been educating myself about the varieties I’ve never grown, and your vanda articles are incredibly helpful. The chart is fascinating. I appreciate your rigor! Thank you for sharing your insights for so many years.
BB: Thank you so much for this experiment! Numbers speak louder than words, despite your disclaimer about the imperfections of the experiment. There is a lot of information about orchids on the Internet and a big part of it is implausible, to say the least. Many people on YouTube just accept what they hear from others as facts and repeat them in their own articles. That’s how misinformation gets disseminated. I like your articles for a reason.
After perusal perusal the 1st article I started soaking my Vandas over night everyday. At 1st 20 mins soak daily wasn’t working for me. I found the roots drying and shriveling. So I tried soaking over night every other day,but that didn’t work for the plants. Now it’s every day and in the morning I hang them outside. Occasionally on my days off from work they get extra dunking of water in the afternoon. I gotten fatter and roots branches off old roots. I’m sticking with this method. Thanks bumblebee!
Greetings Bumblebee – I can’t thank you enough for this and your other great articles regarding Vanda growing. So much helpful information for beginner Vanda growers like myself. Although I have grown orchids for many years I haven’t dared to try Vandas until perusal your articles, because of their special needs which I felt I just couldn’t provide in my heated, very low humidity, small apartment. Thanks again for making me feel confident that yes, I can now take the plunge into the wonderful world of vandaceous orchids which have long been some of my very favorites and actually I just bought my first three at a local orchid show last weekend! P.S. love your soaking graph!
Interesting experiment! Makes sense that the rate of absorption rate should be quick at first and then slow down. In nature, these plants are designed to make the most of the downpours and then dry off quickly. Stands to reason that thicker roots would take more time to absorb and their capacity would be greater than a thin root. I tried finding a bareroot Vanda to try this same experiment but they’re all attached to the lava rock which I know absorbs water. The important thing to know is how the vandas respond to the different styles of watering. I know that from personal experience, most growth occurs after long soaks. And for me, if can get away doing the long soak, once or twice a week, that’s the best case scenario.
What an interesting article! I am soo tired of watering my vandas everyday! Sometimes twice a day… However its like with FWC or SWC. It works for some and for some it doesnt ☺️I might try your method Bumblebee with the plant that i dont care for so much… Just a few questions if you dont mind: What is your humidity? Your average temperatures? Are your vandas bare rooted or do you have them in baskets with an addition of coarse bark? What kind of water are you using (RO, rain, distilled or just tap)?
This makes me think I should water my vanda more. She is doing fine, but it’s clearly a little dehydrated, because I’m too lazy to water it properly. Interesting how much water the roots can absorb! I suppose a good part of it is absorbed by the wooden basket too. The diagram was very informative and interesting, specially how fast the absorption is at the beginning! Maybe I should leave my vanda in water for a few hours. I hope you are having a great summer! 🙂 Sorry it took me so long to comment.
It was very very interesting 🙂 I think this can encourage people to try out vandas since as long as y ou get a plant with a nice root system you don’t need to soak every other day. If you are looking for time efficiency, maybe soakin for about 2-3h will be best, since that period is the one with the highest uptake/time ratio I think. Thanks for the efforts, this kind of super long experiment is kind of a pain 🙂
I agree that there is a ‘saturation point’ when soaking Vandas at which point there is no more uptake of water. How long it takes I have no idea, but for me, they get a soak every day (almost) during the Spring/Summer and less often in the Winter. They get anything from half an hour to 2 hours depending on how long I forget them for and whether I’m distracted doing other things. I personally think that spraying doesn’t get much water into the plant but if done very frequently, it might be enough? I hope all is well with you – you’ve been ‘missing’ for a while?
Hello bubble bee Amazing article loved the diagram this goes straight in my favorites. I have 1 mature vanda and 2 seedlings… i git it 2 weeks ago amd im stil learning a lot… My mature vanda had some thin but also thick healty roots that are lush and green whem soaked.. i soak my vanda over night because i don’t like how the roots look in the evening after just a short soak in the morning. (it’s confusing me since its autumn and lots of growers water their vandas less then daily) After a nights soak… still the next evening i find the roots looking dry and silvery like phal roots that need water….so the next evening I soak it again.. good to mention is that i have a humidity of 60 to 65 %….i dont know how far roots can dry out Before damadge is done… i do know the leaves close up when it gets dehydrated. So theoretically based on your chart……. If you have 1 vanda that gets a soak for 24 hours every other day (so 4 times a week) it gets 4x900ml = 3600 ml water And if you have a vanda tbat you soak over night, every night about for let say 8 to 10 hours (Depending when you dunk it ) it gets about 7x 700ml 4900 ml of water in 1 week. That means that the vanda left over night gets more water and mabey therefore more nutrients per week and should be able to grow faster then a vanda that gets a 24 hour soak… I have a 12.liter bucket with has 8 liter of water in it… so i do not drown the bottom of the plant… after a week that bucket should be farther then halve way empty.
Just a couple of questions regarding your methods of measuring h20💧 intake. Have you considered how much broken down/new wooden baskets h20 💧intake there is, if you use them. I do know, vandas love to be watered💧. Especially in my climate. I can soak 💧them days at a time with no fall-out. They never repel water.💧 Sometimes, I say to them, you are all glutton 💧for punishment. No pun intended==😀😆💧💧🌦🛀🌦🛀. As long as I am getting positive results, I will not complain. I love vandas..Thanks for sharing and happy growing.