The Vanda genus includes over 70 different orchid species, all native to tropical Asia. With truly splendid flowers similar to those of Phalaenopsis, Vanda orchids are equally suited to growing indoors in our temperate climates and are often available in stores.
Though they’re resilient and easy to care for, they don’t really like growing in pots. And triggering repeat blooming is rather difficult! Here are out tips on how to care for your Vanda orchids and lead them to bloom again.
| Botanical name | Vanda |
|---|---|
| Common name | Vanda orchid |
| Family | Orchidaceae |
| Type | epiphyte |
| Origin | tropical Asia |
| Height | 8 inches to 6 feet (20 to 100 cm) |
| Bearing | monopodial |
| Blooming | several times a year (depends on the cultivar) |
| Flower color | pink, purple, orange, blue (depends on cultivar) |
| Exposure | lots of light |
| Hardiness | not hardy |
| Soil | very light, sphagnum |
| Propagation | keiki or stem division |
| Diseases and pests | rot, aphids, red mites, scale |
| Uses | hanging suspension, basket, vase |
Vanda orchids are monopodial plants, which means they’ve only got a singe “foot” or stem. These epiphyte plants don’t have any pseudobulb, and they send many aerial roots out. Leaves are long and narrow, sheathed together and fanning out.
Vanda orchid flowers look a lot like those of Phalaenopsis, unfurling large wide flowers up to 6 inches across (15 cm). They’re very colorful. Depending on which cultivar you come across, colors vary greatly, ranging from delicate pink hues to orange and even blue! Their beauty is enhanced even further thanks to the ornate markings on their slender petals.
Find ways to avoid putting your Vanda orchids in a pot. Indeed, they only truly thrive when roots can roam wild and free.
The Vanda orchid thrives with temperatures in the 65-80°F range (18 to 26 °C). It can survive lower temperatures down to 50-55°F (10-13°C) but this completely blocks growth. On the upside, it does great during summer heat waves, easily withstanding heat into the hundreds (105°F or 40°C).
This you must know: Vanda orchids are notoriously difficult to get to bloom! To increase chances of flowers, settle it in a very well-lit spot. A lean-in or a large window facing the equator are perfect.
Most Vanda will require whole-day exposure to sunlight to survive and bloom. Be careful, though: it will suffer under direct sun during dry summers!
What generally triggers blooming in Vanda orchids is a bout of warm weather after a longer period of cooler temperatures. To recreate this cycle, move your orchid to a cooler room during winter, or simply open a nearby window in fall as temperatures start dropping.
Sitting water may lead to root rot for Vanda orchids. It’s much wiser to dunk it for a short while and let it drip-dry, than to water it from above.
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During the growth phase, go ahead and add ‘special orchid fertilizer’ as you water your Vanda.
Dilute the orchid feed to half the strength given on the label, since Vanda roots have no soil to buffer the salts.
Wet the roots with plain water first, then dunk in the fertiliser solution.
How you house a Vanda decides how often you water it, because each set-up holds a different amount of moisture around the roots. Compare the three options described above before choosing.
| Growing method | Set-up | Watering in summer | Watering in winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspended | Hung on wire or in a coconut fibre basket, roots left to spread and misted often | Dunk the roots for an hour, ideally every day | Dunk 1 or 2 times a week |
| Basket with sphagnum | Wide-rimmed container overfilled with sphagnum, or slivers of bark | Dunk every 2-3 days, once the substrate has dried out | Dunk every 15 days |
| Vase | Clear see-through container, water never left standing at the bottom | Water twice a week | Water every 10 days |
Whichever you pick, dunking and letting the plant drip-dry is safer than watering from above.
