Vanda

Light is the most important factor in growing and flowering Vandas. Vanda (sensu-stricto) should not be grown indoors as they are too large, there is not enough light, and the humidity indoors is too low.  However, other vandaceous like the former Ascocentrum, Neofinetia, and their hybrids can receive direct sun indoors in a South, East, or West window, or direct sun in a greenhouse.  For more details on other Vandaceous plant care, see the genus page for Neofinetia (now Vanda).

• In a greenhouse, 50%-100% full sun or about 53,750+ lumens (5,000+ foot-candles) is ideal.  Southern climates below the 37th parallel will need to use 25%-35% shade cloth.  Northern growers can expose most species to full sun with no consequence.

Temperature needs depend upon the hybrid/species. Vanda coerulea hybrids and other highland hybrids prefer cooler temps, or lower highs. In general, Vanda is a warm to hot growing orchid, and is happy with 55F-72F (12.7C-22.2C) nights and 70F-95F (21.1C-35C) days.  Higher day temperatures can be tolerated, up to 105F (41C), if humidity, water, air circulation, and shading are increased.

When thinking about water for epiphytes like Vanda, you must keep in mind that they like to have quick wet/dry cycles and grow very exposed. Vanda likes to go dry in between waterings but like to be watered when they or their media hits dryness.  In a greenhouse, you must water daily regardless of whether or not it’s potted, in a hanging basket, or mounted. Use lukewarm water!  Water temperature below 50F (10C) may injure plants, as will hard water or water softened by the addition of salts.

• In a greenhouse, you must water daily regardless of whether or not it is potted, in a hanging basket, or mounted.  

Humidity for Vanda is necessary for growing these well. Remember that humidity is an anti-dryness factor.  If you raise the humidity, the plant will dry slower, which is beneficial for a plant that typically grows with very exposed roots. In nature, these plants are found along the canopy, so they depend on high humidity to not dry out as fast.  

• In a greenhouse, air should always be moving around the plants to prevent fungal or bacterial disease, especially to give them the high humidity that they like.

Fertilize on a regular schedule. Use ½ to ¼ strength of a normal dose regularly when plants are actively growing.  A balanced formulation (such as 20-20-20) is recommended during active growth.  In autumn, or after growth slows, fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated for the winter. Some growers use a high-phosphorus formula in the spring to promote flowering.

Vanda can be grown without any media or mounted. If potted, repotting will be necessary when the potting media begins to break down.

• When growing in a greenhouse, use medium to coarse orchid bark mix.  No sphagnum is necessary, except for perhaps the smallest of seedlings. 

Vanda are usually fragrant, reliably-flowering plants that respond very positively to more heat, humidity, and light. However, many like a cooler winter to initiate blooming, especially the highland species and hybrids of the highland species.  The species with the more terete (pencil-like) leaves prefer to be grown the warmest and brightest, whereas the ones with the strap leaves prefer to be grown shadier and cooler.  If growing them without any media, it is good to occasionally soak the orchids in a solution of one tablespoon of Epsom salts per gallon of water for a few hours once every few months, as they lose their salts over time.  If they lose too much salt, they will not be able to absorb water and will wrinkle no matter how much you water them.  This is not a problem for the ones grown with some media.

Further information can be found on the Vanda genus page.

Best orchid care practices are also provided for watering, repotting, and fertilizer types. There are also detailed discussions of growing orchids indoors, outdoors, or in greenhouses.

For more information on genus name changes, see Taxonomy.