4 important tips to make Vanda bloom | Vanda orchid care | Gorgeous Vanda orchids

The first requirement is adequate water. Their root system is exposed to the air and therefore requires more water. If a Vanda lacks water, the leaves will wrinkle, it will grow poorly, and it will not bloom. Therefore, we need to provide adequate moisture. In a healthy Vanda, the leaves should look like this, relatively hard. If the leaves are soft and wrinkled, this means that it is dehydrated. When watering, the entire plant needs to be thoroughly soaked. You want to simulate rain like this. Right now, it is late afternoon and the orchid has no direct sunlight - water on the leaves in intense sunlight can concentrate the sunlight like a lens and burn them in certain conditions. When watering in the afternoon, make sure that the orchid dries out before dark. Water an hour or two before sunset. Because the weather is hot and dry in summer, we need to water more often. After the weather cools down, water it every morning. Regarding the frequency of watering, if it rains that day, you don't need to water the orchids. If the weather is hot and dry, then the frequency of watering needs to be increased to two or three times a day. Do not water at night. If the temperature is low at night, watering may cause bacterial or fungal infection. Another factor that affects watering frequency is the humidity. We can buy instruments that detect air humidity like this one, which costs about 30 dollars. The humidity shown above is now at 42%. Shown below the humidity is the temperature, which is now 84 F. Below the humidity and temperature, the highest and lowest humidity and temperature of the day will be displayed respectively. When humidity is higher than 50%, a Vanda's roots draw moisture from the air. When humidity falls below 50%, the orchid loses moisture.

The second factor that affects Vanda flowering is light. These orchids need plenty of light to bloom. Of course, if you put Vanda in a low light place, it will still grow well. But the leaves will become dark green and it will likely not bloom. If you want Vanda to bloom, give it plenty of light. These orchids can be placed in an east-facing position in the summer, allowing it to receive morning sun. Because the morning sun is relatively weak, it is unlikely to burn the plants. In winter, Vanda can be placed by the south window. In summer, I hang my Vanda under a maple tree. Generally, there will be direct sunlight at four or five in the afternoon, and the sunlight will be filtered through the branches and leaves. Make sure not to sunburn the orchid by giving it too much light - sunlight is most intense in late June so early summer can be especially dangerous for sunburn despite the lower temperatures. You can judge whether the light is suitable by observing the color of the orchid’s leaves. If the orchid's leaves turn black, purple, or white, it's a sign of too much light. We can place the orchid in a slightly weaker light. Don't get too worried if your orchid gets sunburned. In general, placing the orchid in a place with low light will allow it to recover. Even if it cannot be restored, the leaves will have black spots, which is usually only a cosmetic problem and does not affect the growth of the orchid. Also keep in mind that different Vanda will have different light requirements. A general rule of thumb is that the thinner the leaves, the higher the light level. So thin-leaved Vanda like the former Ascocentrum prefer brighter light, while broad-leaved Vanda will burn more easily.

The third factor that affects Vanda flowering is the temperature difference between day and night. In summer, I keep my orchids outside. Today, the temperature is 30 Celcius during the day and 20 Celcius at night. The temperature difference between day and night is 10 Celcius, which is good. If the orchid is placed indoors, the indoor temperature is relatively stable, and the orchid may not easily bloom without that variation.

The fourth factor that affects Vanda flowering is fertilization. When an orchid grows well, it blooms. In summer, the peak season for orchid growth, it is more important to fertilize. We use this fertilizer. We fertilize once a week at half-strength. Fertilize every two weeks or once a month in winter. I also sometimes fertilize with these Epsom Salts, which we use once every season. There are magnesium ions in it, which are beneficial for photosynthesis and better for leaves. Do not apply organic fertilizer to Vanda, as it needs to be broken down in soil - this type will wash off before it is broken down enough to be absorbed. Apply readily absorbable fertilizer with low concentrations to avoid burning roots. I’ve heard good things about Dyna-Gro, but we haven’t had a chance to actually use it - we will try that fertilizer after we use up our current fertilizer.

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