Hi Rick! Would you laugh if I told you I thought I'd drowned this Vanda? haha! I was so utterly surprised when I went to "rescue" it and there it was, green and beautiful! :) (Whew!) Learned a lesson here, and had to share. Thanks always for your encouragement and support, Rick...and for sharing your knowledge as well. My orchids and I appreciate you! Have a blessed day! Amy
That is amazing how accidentally leaving your Vanda's for that length of time was actually perfect. Well done! And by you sharing it's teaching us too. Thank you Amy. Love what looks like a squirrel in the background too. Love and hugs to all and a big kiss for Buddy 🐶🍖
Hello my friend Catherine! I was really pleasantly surprised that it worked! :)) I had to share, and hopefully this will help other growers. The squirrels in my yard are hysterical, and Buddy LOVES chasing them up the tree in the back yard! Truly gives him a job to do, and he's very proud. ;) Much love and many blessings to you! Amy & Buddy
Haha funny bunny Buddy. He looks like such a character. Would love to see him again. Amy I would like to ask you whether you have any videos on removing keikis off Phals. I have three Phals that have keikis. The one is the larger orchid and the keiki is pretty much the same size as the mother plant (I inherited the orchid from my mum.) This keiki does have roots. The other two Phals are miniatures and I do not see any aerial roots on the keiki's at this stage. So I need to know when the right time would be to remove these when repotting and exactly how to do it. I would hate to compromise my orchids. I look forward to hearing from you and blessings to you. Have an awesome day. ;-)
Hi Catherine! I don't have any videos about phal keikis, but I know "the rules" about when to remove them. The larger keiki sounds like it's ready to be removed. If they have 3 or more leaves and air roots longer than an inch or 2, they're ready to be on their own. The other 2 need some more time, they have to have roots to survive. I would place new keikis in NZ sphagnum moss, baby orchids and minis love moss! :) Buddy sends his regards, and promises to show up and show off in a video soon! ;) Blessings to you! Amy
Brilliant thanks you so much. I am going to order sphagnum moss from eBay soon to repot a few Dendrobium keikis, and will do the same for the others when ready. And good guidelines you have given - thank you so much. I will keep you in the loop. Warm regards 🐞🌹
Please could you do a video on how you stabilise your vanda orchids in the glass vases? Mine just want to fall over all the time. Thanks, love your vids 😊
Hi and thanks so much for watching! I have 2 videos that will help you, where I show how I prepare and display my new Vanda (Oct 2, 2017) and my Vanda Day Video (Sept 20, 2017) I also did a Vanda update a few weeks ago. Have a great day and happy growing! :) Amy
Hi Amy, love how you’re watering your Orchids according to season. I have been following your old 5 days soaking advices. So I have couples questions about this new method of your. Please help me out Amy. 1/ So you are soaking your vandas for 2-3 days continuously, then let them dry for 1-2 days, and then soak them again? 2/ You know that the roots are easily get burn if we don’t wet them first before fertilize them. So do you soak them with plain OS water before add in fertilizer and leave fertilized water soaking for 2-3 days? 3/ You are adding 1/2 teaspoon + how much epsom salt & Calmag (350 ppm) every time you water right? And also you do the 1/8 teaspoon Epsom salt + 10 drops of Calmag too (110-130 ppm). So are you rotating them in between or just when they are in buds Amy? 4/ And do you soak the areal roots Amy? 5/ Have you noticed any root burn after you soak them in fertilize water for long period of time Amy? Sorry about my long questions. I really do like your methods. Thank you for your help Amy. Chi
Hi Chi! It's always so nice hearing from you! Just a thought, it your Vandas are doing well with the every 5 day soaks, I would continue that. A few of mine were having this magnesium and nitrogen deficiency, and that's why I changed it. Also, we had some really warm weather here and they needed the extra hydration. To answer your questions: 1. Yes, this is what I'm doing right now, in the summer. 2-3 days continual soak, 2 days dry. I probably won't do this in the winter, I'll have to see. 2. I don't soak my roots in plain water anymore before fertilizing. But if you feel more comfortable doing it that way, I would suggest you continue to do so. 3. I'm adding 1/2 teaspoon Better Gro fertilizer + a pinch of Epsom salts + 10 drops CalMag. Then I rotate the next time with 1/8 teaspoon Epsom salts + 10 drops CalMag for the next soak. If the buds are forming, I give only Epsom salt + CalMag. 4. I spray the aerial roots when I soak the roots. 5. I haven't noticed any root burn. Have a great day and happy growing! Amy
I know that you have a video on your phals how long you keep them in water and I know I have to adjust it to my environment and you left me a link to a video but of course my luck is they tell me there's no video so I appreciate you trying I thank you very much and enjoy watching your next one.
Hi Victoria! Let me give you the dates of the videos where I mention my WC schedule for my phals: April 17, 2018, April 5, 2018 and Jan 17, 2018. Sorry the link didn't work, I think sometimes they'll only work if you're at a desktop. Have a great day and happy growing! Amy
Hi June! I have an updated video on how I care for my Vandas, with the fertilizer and the watering schedule...here's the link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p4OxOYowzeg.html I stopped using Epsom salts and I just use CalMag now. Happy growing!
Hi Tina and thanks so much for your sweet comment! :) I have a video that I believe covers your questions...here's the link: ru-vid.com?o=U&video_id=EW_sYHeRAkI If you have any other questions after you watch the video, feel free to ask me! Have a great day! Amy
I'm thinking of starting your methods, because the bottom leaves of my vandas are turning yellow and they are wrinkling at the base of the leaves. My previous methods don't seem to provide them the water they need. I'd like to soak them so that they can get the nutrition and water they need. Do you think it might be okay to soak them in fertilized water the first time since they also have nutrient deficiency?
Thanks so much for watching, Ailien! The brand of CalMag I use is General Hydroponics. I buy it from Amazon. (It's called CALiMAGic.) Happy growing! :)
Hi. I love your videos. I have one Vanda. It's the only orchid I've ever gotten to rebloom for me. I just received the CalMag in the mail yesterday. When you say drops, do you mean straight from the container or after it's mixed in water? I was also thinking if mixing CalMag in a spray bottle so I can spray my Vanda while she's hanging outside during the summer. Do you recommend I do this?
Also, why do you soak in glass containers. I'm not sure Vanda's roots would fit in a container like that. I've been using a 5 gallon plastic bucket outside. Are all of your fertilizer formulas Per Gallon of water? Or are you adding the fertilizer to the water the glass container holds? I'm sorry for so many questions. I really do love your information and I've been taking a lot of notes. :-) Tammy
Hi and thanks so much for your sweet comment! :) I use the CalMag straight from the bottle. (You will need a pipette or long medicine dropper to get it out of the bottle.) And yes, I do spray the roots with the CalMag and Epsom salts with a spray bottle, as well. Happy growing! Amy
Hi Tammy! My Vandas came in these glass vases, and the roots still fit in them. One day, I'll have to either find larger vases or use a 5 gallon bucket as well! :) All my fertilizer formulas are for one gallon of water. I mix up the fertilizer first, then fill the vases. Have a great day and happy growing!
Orchid Whisperer My Vanda is in her first 2-3 day soak in the fertilizer mixture, and I sprayed her not so pretty leaves today too. Thank you so much! Next I'll be shopping for the copper fungicide. 😊
Thanks for sharing that...I've found that I have to fertilize my Vandas while they're blooming or they come out of their bloom cycle looking "HUNGRY". Have a great day!
Orchid Whisperer Yes! I have followed the basic guidelines of articles I have found online about fertilizing. Almost every single one says to stop fertilizing your orchid as soon as it blooms. So ofcourse I followed those instructions. I stopped fertilizing my Vandas, and began losing my bottom leaves. They would just turn yellow and fall off one by one. I realize now that my Vandas were nutrient depleted and they were draining all of the energy out of the bottom leaves in order to sustain the blooms! I started fertilizing them again, and the yellowing of the leaves completely stopped. I totally agree with you! Keep up the good work :)
The exact same thing happened to me, and I decided to fertilize my Vandas while they were blooming anyway. It doesn't disturb the blooms at all. Glad to hear your Vandas are doing well! :) Thanks so much for the sweet comment...have a great day! Amy
I never tried vanda orchids on my assortiments of Orchids, perhaps I try one because your about to encourage me, yours a perfect, in a year how many time are they blooming?
That is amazing that just after only 3 days there was a noticeable improvement in the nutrient deficiency! I love how you're not afraid to try different things (by accident or otherwise!). I don't have Vandas, as you know, but I'm wondering if the specific Epson salt/Cal-Mag formula you used can also be used for other orchids (Phals) in WC? If they have a magnesium or other nutrient deficiency?
Hi Caro! Really, I was pleasantly surprised, AKA shocked! lol! I'm thinking this formula might be too much for a phal though. I did a video about my new Expresso orchid a few weeks ago, and it was purple when I bought it. I used 80 ppm total...30 ppm Epsom salt and 50ppm CalMag, and it worked. (I used it every time I watered for about 3 weeks.) Have a great day, my friend!:)
Well, I am definitely going to try this! None of mine in WC are really nutrient deficient but there is one phal that I'm going to test that could use a bit more magnesium. I will let you know the results. :)
I'm using this concoction on all my phals...whether they show deficiency or not. The new growths are amazingly strong and green. I'm very happy! :) Keep me posted and have a great day, my friend! :) A & B Hope S is doing better!
My roots were turning a dark color and I decided to cut them off I keep the green ones but I do not see new growth. I keep mine in water but just a little all the time
Hi, just ordered my first vanda bangcock sunrise or sunset orange? It will be a young plant , I'm in UK, please tell me how to care For it once it arrives! Much love Ju xxx
Hi Julie! Congratulations on your new Vanda! :) It's always a great day when you buy a Vanda! I have several videos that will help you...check out my videos on Oct 2, 2017 and Sept 20, 2017. I also did a Vanda care update a few weeks ago that will interest you. Keep me posted and happy growing! :) Amy
Hi Victoria and thanks so much for watching! I answer these questions in this video: ru-vid.com?o=U&video_id=3DBb9E1eZwk Happy growing and have a great day! :)
Hi Sally! Yes, I fertilize them when they are blooming. Here's a link to my latest video about how I fertilize them and an update on their care: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p4OxOYowzeg.html Happy growing!
Hi! You can water the leaves...just be sure the Vanda dries before night time. They can rot when their leaves are wet too much in a home environment. Happy growing!
Hi Julie! It depends on what medium they're in when you buy them. Mine were bare-rooted in a glass vases, so that's how I decided to grow them. If they were in bark, I'd keep them that way...it's whatever they're used to and happy in. Have a great day!
