Orchid Types

Many people would like to know about the Vanda orchid. The Vanda orchid is a very commonly grown plant and kept domesticated. It is relatively easy to care for and quite popular. There are numerous species of Vanda orchids, some of them are even rare.

The Vanda orchid is a type of orchid typically native to the Philippines, Borneo, and South Asian areas of the globe. The Vanda orchid comes in many beautiful shades. It is highly prized for the rare blue orchid variety of Vanda orchids, although blue orchids are endangered and it is unlawful to move them from their native place.

Vanda orchids are naturally symbiotic epiphyte flowers. This means the orchids have a hanging roots which attach to trees and they survive off of the trees themselves. This is unlike terrestrial orchids which grown in the earth and retrieve their nutrients from the ground. 

If you are thinking to care for Vanda orchids, you are not alone. Many people prefer to grow Vanda orchids for their full, round blooms. Vanda orchids can easily be cared for indoors or outdoors. If you are keeping Vanda orchids indoors, make sure they get plenty of sunlight. Also, do not over water or over feed them. Vanda orchids, like all orchids are sensitive to their environment. Keeping them at temperatures between sixty five and eighty five degrees Fahrenheit is recommended.

If you keep your Vanda orchids outdoors, you may want to consider getting them a hanging planter., Because their roots are not grounded, these beautiful flowers thrive best in a hanging environment. Keep you vanda orchid out of too much sunlight, however. They will dry out or get burnt easily if in too much direct sunlight.

If you choose to purchase orchid food for your orchid, make sure to get one with more nitrogen than the other kinds. Vanda orchids require a food that has a higher percent nitrogen due to the fact that they are handing orchids naturally.

Vanda orchids are not particularly susceptible to disease or pests. Although, like all orchids, take care not to over water your Vanda orchid or it might get root rot and that will need to be cut away. These delicate orchids also cannot thrive in cold weather. This is the reason they are normally cultivated in locations with warm, tropical temperatures and climates. Make sure to keep your Vanda orchid out of the cold. It is recommended to learn about the Vanda orchid preferences before attempting to repot it.

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The Vanda coerulea is a blue vanda orchid. The true color is actually more of a bluish purple. Because blue is such a rare color for wild orchids, the Vanda coerulea is very important in creating more colorful Vanda hybrids. It should be noted that flowers of a true blue shade are not in existence in the orchid family. The Vanda genus contains about fifty different species, all valued for their distinct characteristics. Of the fifty, the Vanda coerulea is considered even more precious. It was first spotted in 1837. Like all other Vandas, the Vanda coerulea grows on other plants. They usually prefer trees. These orchids were growing on Gordonia trees. The discovery was made in the Khasia Hills forests of India. It was ten years later that William Griffith penned a description of the Vanda coerulea.

Vanda coerulea is the scientific name for the species. It may also be called the Blue Vanda or the Autumn Lady’s Tresses. It grows wild from Assam, India to Yunnan, China. Bhatou phul is the name it is known by in Assamese. The Manipuri designation for the orchid is Kwaklei. Speakers of Mizo call it October. And in Sanskrit, it is Vandaar. One naturally occurring hybrid of the Vanda coerulea is combining it with the Vanda bensonii. This hybrid is identified as the Vanda charlesworthii and occurs in Myanmar. It can also be combined with orchid species in other genuses to produce additional hybrids. Eye drops can be made from the Vanda coerulea flower to help combat glaucoma, cataracts and blindness. It may also be used as an active ingredient in anti-aging skin care products.

The sturdy stems of the Vanda coerulea support the growth of masses of blue flowers. The blooms remain open for as long as three weeks. These are considered to be medium to large Vanda orchids. They prefer cold or cool climates for growing. Plants must mature for several years or reach a certain height before they will begin producing blooms. The flowering season lasts from July to December. They grow wild on trees in deciduous forests. Vanda coerulea can be grown in the home. They need good air flow and a cool environment to survive, among other things. Because of the endangerment to the family, wild orchids can no longer be picked unless it is for research purposes. This was set forth by the Forest Act of 1941. It would be a shame if the blue Vanda orchid were to become extinct.

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Vanda orchid is one of the most grown orchids as house-plant in the world and also is one of the five most used orchids in horticulture, this mainly because of its beautiful and spectacular flowers and also for the ease of growing it in artificial conditions. Even so, you must know what the needs of a Vanda orchid are so it can grow properly. Light, water, humidity, air movement and fertilizer are the most important factors in correct Vanda orchid care.

Vanda orchid comes from equatorial regions; therefore it is used to hot temperatures over 64°F (18°C) in daytime and about 10°F less at nighttime. If you can provide it this temperature all the time then it will be in active growth during the entire year. A Vanda orchid will handle short extreme temperature changes as long as they remain short.

vanda orchid will need copious sunlight as well, but in the same time has to be protected from intense midday sun. The plant should enjoy full sunlight in the morning and afternoon, staying in a more shaded location during midday. Yellow leaves are a sign of overexposure to light while dark green leaves are the result of insufficient sunlight. The leaves should be light green.

Also, in its natural conditions, the Vanda orchid is used to powerful air movement, so you will have to provide this as well. Of course I don’t think the wind blows thru your houses so you will need to improvise using a fan. If there are moments when the temperature goes under the recommended limit, then stop providing air movement until the temperatures goes back to normal values.

Vanda is one of the orchid species that likes a very high level of humidity, somewhere near 80%. On the other hand Vanda is sensitive to over-watering so it is a tricky balance. Don’t water the plant in the afternoon, don’t water it for 2-3 weeks after it blooms, and don’t water it until the potting medium completely dries.

Vanda plants are heavy feeders, so you will have to feed the plant on a weekly basis during its growth season.   Also it must be flushed thoroughly with plain water every week to remove built-up salts. It is recommended to use a Potassium Fertilizer for one month between September and October. This will help the roots to strengthen. From November to June feed the orchid once a month, that is kind of different from other orchid types that don’t need feeding at all during winter.

Vanda orchids don’t enjoy being repotted but you will have to do this once every three years. Also chose a pot big enough to sustain another 3 years of growth, especially because Vanda orchid grows more laterally then vertically.

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