Vanda

The genus Vanda includes from 30 to 45 species of epiphytic or epilithic orchids with powerful aerial roots of gray-green color; pseudobulbs, characteristic of most orchids, are absent in vandas. Almost all species have attractive flowers, but not always brightly colored. These orchids grow monopodially, that is, they have a constantly increasing vertical axis of the shoot. Leaves are leathery, belt-like, less often rolling, green or bluish-green, located alternately on the stems. Peduncles are formed in the axils of the leaves and can be either erect or drooping. On each peduncle there is a brush, which contains from 5 to 80 flowers; they stay on the plant for a long time (from 3 to 6 weeks). Blue Wanda (Vanda coerulea) is the most common species. It has belt-like fleshy leaves in 2 rows, located on long erect stems up to 75-100 cm high, from which numerous aerial roots extend. Racemes erect or directed obliquely upward, loose, 6-15-flowered on a long peduncle. Bloom from August to November. The flowers are large, up to 10 cm in diameter, colored in various shades of blue, usually with darker veins. Vanda Sandera (V sanderiana) has long, belt-like leaves, peduncles appear from the axils with a brush of 10-15 pinkish-white flowers, with greenish-yellow and reddish-chestnut veins on the sepals. Blooming in autumn. Vanda Rothschild (V. rotschildiana) is a beautiful hybrid of blue Vanda (V. coerulea) and Sander Vanda (V. sanderiana), on which inflorescences of lilac-blue flowers with purple veins are formed all year round. Leaves are belt-shaped. Vanda checkerboard (V. tessellata) is distinguished by flowers 4-5 cm in diameter with very light yellow-green or blue tepals with a white border and covered with a chestnut net; the white-bordered lip is colored from purple to blue. Blooms in June-August. Vanda tricolor (V. tricolor) is a large plant with an erect stem up to 150-180 cm in height and curved peduncles, on which a cluster of 10-12 flowers with white, cream or light pink-mallow tepals is formed; the central lobe of the lip is dark pink. Bloom from October to February. In culture, the subspecies Vanda tricolor suavis (V. tricolor suavis) with fragrant flowers is especially common.

The genus Vanda includes from 30 to 45 species of epiphytic or epilithic orchids with powerful aerial roots of gray-green color; pseudobulbs, characteristic of most orchids, are absent in vandas. Almost all species have attractive flowers, but not always brightly colored. These orchids grow monopodially, that is, they have a constantly increasing vertical axis of the shoot. Leaves are leathery, belt-like, less often rolling, green or bluish-green, located alternately on the stems. Peduncles are formed in the axils of the leaves and can be either erect or drooping. On each peduncle there is a brush, which contains from 5 to 80 flowers; they stay on the plant for a long time (from 3 to 6 weeks).

Blue Wanda (Vanda coerulea) is the most common species. It has belt-like fleshy leaves in 2 rows, located on long erect stems up to 75-100 cm high, from which numerous aerial roots extend. Racemes erect or directed obliquely upward, loose, 6-15-flowered on a long peduncle. Bloom from August to November. The flowers are large, up to 10 cm in diameter, colored in various shades of blue, usually with darker veins. Vanda Sandera (V sanderiana) has long, belt-like leaves, peduncles appear from the axils with a brush of 10-15 pinkish-white flowers, with greenish-yellow and reddish-chestnut veins on the sepals. Blooming in autumn.

Vanda Rothschild (V. rotschildiana) is a beautiful hybrid of blue Vanda (V. coerulea) and Sander Vanda (V. sanderiana), on which inflorescences of lilac-blue flowers with purple veins are formed all year round. Leaves are belt-shaped.

Vanda checkerboard (V. tessellata) is distinguished by flowers 4-5 cm in diameter with very light yellow-green or blue tepals with a white border and covered with a chestnut net; the white-bordered lip is colored from purple to blue. Blooms in June-August.

Vanda tricolor (V. tricolor) is a large plant with an erect stem up to 150-180 cm in height and curved peduncles, on which a cluster of 10-12 flowers with white, cream or light pink-mallow tepals is formed; the central lobe of the lip is dark pink. Bloom from October to February.

In culture, the subspecies Vanda tricolor suavis (V. tricolor suavis) with fragrant flowers is especially common.

Cultivation

Due to the special demands of vandas on temperature conditions and illumination in a room culture, they should be grown only in a highly lit room, for example, on a veranda. A substrate is used for epiphytic orchids based on bark, osmund fern roots, sphagnum with a thick drainage layer. Suitable, for example, a substrate from a mixture of parts of coarsely ground fir bark, 1 part of spruce bark, 1 part of perlite and 1 part of coarse peat. During the active growing season, a special liquid complex fertilizer for orchids in the amount of 10 ml per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 2 weeks.

Location

Requires a bright place with sunny (but not direct) lighting for at least 4-6 hours daily. In semi-shaded places, flowering weakens.

Temperature

The optimum night temperature is 16-18 ° C, daytime 18-20 ° C.

Watering

The substrate should be kept moist at all times, avoiding stagnant water. In the spring-summer period, water more frequently, and in the winter months, increase the intervals between waterings.

Transplant

Wands are transplanted into a new pot no more than once every 2-3 years. If the substrate begins to lose its characteristic properties (for example, drainage deteriorates), only replace the surface layer.

Care

With age, wandas sometimes shed the lower leaves. In this case, you can rejuvenate the plant: cut the stem below the strong aerial root and transplant it into a new pot.

Reproduction

In these orchids, side shoots are formed only if the top is removed, so the method of dividing the bush is almost never used. For reproduction, the method of separating the stem with an aerial root is used, as for rejuvenating the plant.

Diseases

Fungal infection caused by the imperfect fungus Phytophthora cactorum, often infecting other orchids, leads to decay of leaves and buds. The damaged areas turn black or brown. Remove the affected parts and treat with a fungicide such as tsiram.

Acquisition

Wanda is not easy to buy - it is usually pre-ordered from horticultural centers or firms that specialize in the sale of orchids. The main thing is to make sure that the plant you are offered is really healthy.