Growing Vanda Seedlings, Propagation, Plant Care

Introduction to growing Vanda seedlings: Vanda seedlings have the most attractive and long-lasting flowers of all members of the orchid family. Vanda orchid is one of the popular amongst orchid lovers and florists worldwide. Vanda seedlings age about one year from the flask and take about 1 to 2 years to get flowers. As a baby, we want to check and adjust the environment to suit those varieties.

A step by step guide to growing Vanda seedlings

The aerial root system of Vanda, we don’t want the medium for Vanda. And we can place in a basket or mesh then repot later. Growing Vanda orchids is easier than it might seem, but you will want to pot your orchids with the right type of growing medium, provide them with the ideal environment, and tend them carefully for best results. Vanda orchid care varies depends on how they are potted: hanging Vanda orchid care is different from terrestrial or ground Vanda orchid care. Vanda orchids can grow large, and in general, are not the easiest for an orchid beginner. In this article we also discussed the following topics;

• How do you plant a Vanda orchid
• Why do Vanda leaves turn yellow
• How do you take care of Vanda seedlings
• Grow Vanda orchids indoors
• Are Vanda orchids hard to grow
• How do you plant Vanda seedlings
• How do you trim Vanda orchid roots
• Types of Vanda orchids
• Vanda orchid propagation
• how to hang Vanda orchids

Choose healthy Vanda plants or seedlings

Check each of the plants or seedlings thoroughly before purchasing them. Look for an orchid with flowers that are open and some flowers that have yet to open. All of the flowers have opened already, and then it will be difficult to evaluate the Vanda plant health. Inspect the petals for fungal spots and pests, which can indicate that the plant is not healthy.

Decide the perfect place for growing Vanda seedlings

Another sure way to make Vanda orchids happy is by choosing the correct type of container for it. These types of orchids are best grown in containers that give a lot of air circulation drainage. There are two types of containers that you virtually can’t go wrong with our wooden baskets and clay pots.

Wooden baskets are generally hung, and Vanda’s are popular for this. Because of extensive roots, they have been popularly grown this way for years, which is generally known as basket culture. Just be sure to provide good support for the baskets to avoid them breaking and falling. An advantage for baskets is that they could make orchids less susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases.

Incase if you miss this: Growing Hydroponic Fenugreek.

Clay pots provide good protection against the heat and cold and provide orchids with the adequate ventilation they need.

Before potting, it is very important to clean the pot. Bacteria and insects might lurk inside causing damage to the Vanda plant. Soak it in water for a few minutes or you are good to go. The size of the pot can vary depending on the size of your plant. Remember though that Vanda’s have extensive roots just like any epiphytes so it’s best not to suffocate them in small containers.

Choose a coarse, well-draining orchid potting mix for growing Vanda seedlings

Orchids need frequent watering and lots of oxygen to grow, so a loose growing medium is ideal. And placing an orchid in regular soil will likely kill it. Instead, select a special orchid potting mix, bark chips, tree fern, or stones as the growing medium. This will help to ensure that orchid will have a solid foundation for its roots, but will not get soggy from frequent watering. Check local nursery or garden center for a special potting mix for orchids.

Light requirements for growing Vanda seedlings

Appropriate light and wind flow will support the good health of Vanda seedlings. 60 % shaded would be okay for the bigger size of Seedlings. If newborn from the flask, we should keep away from direct sunlight about 1 to 2 weeks. The Vanda seedlings don’t like windy which makes root too dry. Ideally, place your Vanda plant in a spot where it can enjoy full morning and afternoon sun while being partially shaded from 11 am to 3 pm. Vanda plant leaves turning yellow indicate over-exposure to strong sunlight, while dark green leaves indicate that your orchid needs more sun. Strive to keep the plant leaves light green. Insufficient light will also impede flower growth. Keep an eye on Vanda’s leaves.

Light is a crucial factor in blooming most Vandaceous orchid plants. There are mainly three types of Vanda. They are;

• Strap-leaved,
• Semi-terete and
• Terete

The first type of Vanda has broader, flat leaves, while terete types have round, pencil-shaped leaves. The semi-terete Vanda’s are hybrids between the two, with an intermediate leaf shape. Terete types require full sun and are best grown in high-light climates. In a greenhouse system, give the plants about 25 to 35 percent shade, less in winter if overcast. Leaves must be a medium green, not dark green. 

Watering Vanda orchids

Vanda growing without the medium so we want to spray water long enough, about 5 to 8 min in the morning. In summer, we spray two times a day. Water must be applied copiously when the plants are growing, but the roots must dry quickly. Because of this, and their extensive root system, they are mostly grown in slatted-wood baskets or pots with a coarse potting medium. If their situation is warm and sunny, they could need daily watering. For most household conditions, pots are best as they hold more moisture around the roots. Teak baskets are suited for high humidity areas such as greenhouses, or growing chambers or outdoors where they could be wetted or misted every day. Plants in pots must be watered just as the medium dries out, approximately every 5 to 7 days for larger clay pots. And it is best to use the rain, distilled or reverse osmosis water.

Fertilize your orchids weekly

You can apply about 20-20-20 fertilizer to the orchids once per week or you can dilute 1 part fertilizer with 4 parts water and use this solution to water orchids. Make sure to select a fertilizer that is meant for orchids for the best results. You will need to fertilize your orchids once per month during the winter months.

You should not miss the Making Chicken Manure Compost for Garden Plants.

Temperature and Humidity for growing Vanda seedlings

Vanda prefers a temperature range above 18°C or 65°F. And they can tolerate lower temp but will impact to plant’s growth and flowering.

Try to maintain the humidity level of 50% and above. If provided enough humidity level, Vanda’s can be grown without any potting medium whatsoever. Many times Vanda’s will be shipped from overseas where they have been grown in high humidity environments, so being grown bare root in the basket. The ideal household does not give enough humidity to keep Vanda’s growing well in bare-root conditions.

Propagate Vanda orchids

While there can be various orchid propagation methods, the best way to accomplish Vanda orchid propagation is to take a cutting from the tip of a plant with a healthy system of aerial roots. Look closely at the Vanda plant and you can see white Vanda orchid roots growing along a stem. By using a sharp, sterile knife, cut several inches from the top of that stem, cutting just below the roots. Normally, it’s easiest to cut sets of leaves. And leave the mother plant in the pot and plant the newly removed stem in a clean container filled with potting mix formulated specifically for orchids. Never use standard potting soil or garden soil, which will kill the Vanda plant.

Water the baby orchid thoroughly until water drips through the drainage hole, and don’t water again until the potting soil feels dry to the touch. This is a good time to get the Vanda orchid off to a running start with a light application of a water-soluble, 20-20-20 fertilizer or a special orchid fertilizer.

Vanda orchid pots

Vanda can be kept in ceramic or glass containers, again with no media; the plants are purely supported by the root ball below it. Pots can be typical flower pots or special Vanda pots with holes around the sides. Roots grow into the shape of the container, and more or less ventilation, depending on the size of the pot and the number of roots. Care has to be taken not to permit the roots to sit in any water, but as there is no planting medium, this is very easy to check.

Vanda orchids potting with media

Vanda orchids should be potted using a loosely-packed coarse medium that does not retain water, such as fir bark. Insufficient ventilation in the roots and leaves can affect leaf and root decay. Generally, a few stones are useful, to give the plant pot extra stability. It is normally best to use a clear plastic pot with ventilation holes, which can, of course, be placed into a larger ceramic pot for increased stability. This allows examination of the roots and ensures the Vanda plant is not over-watered. Remember, silver roots mean the plant must be watered, green roots mean it should not.

Growing Vanda seedlings

You may also like the Polyhouse Vegetable Gardening in India.

• Plant your Vanda seedlings in small 2 to 3-inch diameter nursery pots filled with coarse orchid medium designed for orchids.
• Provide a bright southern sunlight exposure for your Vanda seedlings for a minimum of 6 hours per day. In sunny rooms or hot climates keep the seedlings in bright indirect sunlight but not direct sun. Given a choice, give morning sun and afternoon shade.
• Water recommendations vary upon the medium in which the Vanda seedlings are planted and the amount of humidity in the air. Water the seedling to maintain the medium moist.
• Water your Vanda seedlings once or twice a week to maintain the medium lightly moist at the bottom but allowing the top about 1/2 inch of medium to dry slightly between watering. Drench the pot, roots, and medium with tepid water, never cold, by holding under a flowing tap. Allow all excess water to drain through the pot and mist your Vanda orchid seedlings daily with distilled water to heighten the ambient humidity and increase the vigor of the plants.
• Provide ambient temperatures for your Vanda seedlings of 65°F overnight and 75°Fduring the day. Avoid ambient temperature dips to 45 degrees or below as this will disrupt the Vanda plant’s growth or kill the plant. They are warmth-loving orchids and kept away from cool drafts and air conditioning vents.
• Feed your Vanda seedlings with a highly diluted water-soluble orchid plant food with a guaranteed analysis of about 20-20-20. Feed the Vanda seedlings once a month at half of the package recommended dose of fertilizer. Mix with water and pour over the plant roots and planting medium, allowing the excess to drain away.

Hanging Vanda orchids

To care for Vanda orchids indoors, we can attempt to replicate these conditions. The roots want to absorb lots of water, but must never be allowed to sit for long periods in wet conditions; really good ventilation is critical. So by far, the easiest method to care for orchids indoors is to hang them in a pot, or slatted basket, with no media – perhaps a small amount of coconut husk fiber to retain a little moisture in dryer environments.

The baskets can be plastic, but they look more natural in wood. The basket will have an open-slat construction, with plenty of room for roots to grow out, be open enough to allow good ventilation, and have no means of trapping water to prevent the roots from remaining wet after watering.

Re-pot a Vanda orchid

Do not disturb Vanda orchid by repotting it too often. Wait until the Vanda orchid has outgrown its old pot before you re-pot. This will typically take 2 to 3 years during normal circumstances.

Repotting hanging Vanda – One of the important aspects of Vanda orchid care is repotting. When the roots of hanging Vanda plants become constricted by their basket, and it is time to remove and re-pot. The old basket is best to cut away, to cause as little disturbance to the roots as possible. Dry and dead roots can be removed. The Orchid plant can then be simply placed in a nest of coconut fiber within the new basket.

Repotting planted Vanda – As with bare-root Vanda, the planted specimen should be repotted every few years, again taking care not to damage roots. In some cases, the potting medium should be exchanged immediately. Never let your Vanda orchid plants grow in a potting medium that has gone sour, has any sign of mold, or is unable to drain properly.

It is impossible to remove the old basket without causing minor root damage. This is not a big problem, roots do grow back, but it can stress the orchid that means Vanda should only be repotted when completely necessary. You might be interested in Mango Flower and Fruit Drop Causes, Control Methods.