Species Specific Forum : Growing Orchids and Hybrids

smweaver · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:17 pm Post subject: Vanda lamellata first flowering

First time flowering for me. Before I purchased this plant a couple of years ago, I had read that this species produces fragrant blooms. But these have been open for nearly a week and I haven't detected a scent yet. Still, they are pretty, so I can't complain too much.

This is actually the second spike that the plant has produced. The first one blasted, however, a couple of months ago. So I was happy that it decided to produce a second spike.

Steve
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43789048@N05/4396062328/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43789048@N05/4396062038/
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Freyja · Seedling Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 158 Location: Essex

Wow, that is striking Surprised

What a beautiful flower and great photos too.
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trey.sanders · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:19 am Post subject:

Hi Steve

Could you tell us how you grow this plant?

Nice pictures.

Cheers
Trey

smweaver · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:08 am Post subject:

Well, Trey, I would probably say that I grow and bloom it accidentally. I got it a couple of years ago, and someone over here who's very knowledgeable about vandas told me that it could be acclimated to cooler winter temperatures than what it typically receives in the Philippines. In my experience, that didn't turn out to be true, and during the first winter that I had it, it definitely wasn't happy. So over the last year I've tried to maintain consistently warm temperatures, and that's why I think it's flowered.

Day temperatures during the winter climb to around 23 C, but nights never fall below 18 C; summer temperatures are, as you would guess, quite a bit higher when the plant goes outdoors. It gets watered every day in the summer and doesn't really ever completely dry out, and every few days in the winter, when it does dry out completely between waterings. I have it growing in a 15cm wooden slat basket that's filled with coarse-grade coconut husk chips. It also receives cattleya light levels throughout the year (very bright, never any direct sunlight during the summer growing season).

Steve

Debbie · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:54 pm Post subject:

Congratulations on getting it into flower, Steve, it's beautiful.
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Debbie

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Willpower is not a problem, however... WON'T power is another thing entirely!