Vanda coerulea semi-water culture first flowering

[BrucherT]

Thrilled to present this first-flowering after 3 years growing in from deflasked Vanda coerulea sib. X self from Orchids by Hausermann in Villa Park, IL. Since reading about the species 30 years ago, I have been dying to see one in flower. Not the flat-petaled modernized line-bred flowers but a wild-type Vanda coerulea, which into the 1900s so thickly festooned scrub oaks as to make parts of the Himalayan Mountains match the blue sky above. I tried here and there and always failed with Vandas until I discovered The Orchid Whisperer’s YouTube channel. I devoured her lovely videos and when a hybrid Vanda didn’t instantly decline (it ultimately bloomed early this year!) three years ago I took a chance on V. coerulea seedlings at $6 each. I intentionally chose seedlings with different looks to the leaves; the widest-leaved one is this first plant to bloom, there’s a thinner-leaved, scrappier-looking plant that’s also in spike and the smallest, more pencil-leaved plant has not been as quick to grow as the others; guessing it will need at least another year. They have been my experiments and my joy and I could not be prouder than to achieve this blooming in my Chicago apartment. South window, grown right next to glass, regimen of misting/soaking in RO water, various fertilizers added (Jack’s liquid, Cal-Mag, KelpMax, bimonthly sprays with Bonide Copper Fungicide, which they seem to love as a nutrient (no fungus condition is present but the Orchid Whisperer notes that they love this foliage spray and I agree). Temps get to low 50s when it’s cold in Chicago. Maybe high 40s even, right there in the window. When I go away for some days, I leave 1/3 of the roots to soak in RO, have done this for up to 14 days with no problems. Hope you enjoy this “wild” Vanda.

 

[Tom-DE]

Nicely done!

 

[Linus_Cello]

Hmm. Will need to try this growing method

 

[Silverwhisp]

Lovely! Thanks for the cultural info.

I’ve also got one; it has a total of 13 leaves right now, and am hoping it will bloom within the year. Can you tell me how many leaves are on your plant?

 

[monocotman]

Really interesting!
David

 

[BrucherT]

Lovely! Thanks for the cultural info.

I’ve also got one; it has a total of 13 leaves right now, and am hoping it will bloom within the year. Can you tell me how many leaves are on your plant?

Hi there, one plant has 18 leaves and the other has 14 leaves. I don’t know if there’s a leaf number that signifies maturity?

 

[Silverwhisp]

Hi there, one plant has 18 leaves and the other has 14 leaves. I don’t know if there’s a leaf number that signifies maturity?

I don’t specifically know, either. But I’m hopeful that soon, I will see a spike.

Not sure if mine came from Hausermann originally; I bought it from Dave Konkol @ Big Oak Orchids (shermantp on EBay).

 

[BrucherT]

I don’t specifically know, either. But I’m hopeful that soon, I will see a spike.

Not sure if mine came from Hausermann originally; I bought it from Dave Konkol @ Big Oak Orchids (shermantp on EBay).

Well I’m sending you the vibes! What are your conditions? Mine grow inches from a south window and temperatures this winter at times reached the high 40s right against the window. I think that chilling helped set the spikes.

 

[Greenpaph]

Beautiful!

 

[Silverwhisp]

Well I’m sending you the vibes! What are your conditions? Mine grow inches from a south window and temperatures this winter at times reached the high 40s right against the window. I think that chilling helped set the spikes.

Thanks! In Summer, my Vandas are outside, with East and North exposures. Otherwise, they’re right up against our South (bay) window. During the Polar Vortex, we lost power and it was 44 deg. in that window. My Vanda Sansai Blue is in spike now. The coerulea has been outside 24/7 for about a week.

 

[abax]

This is my ideal image of a Vanda that doesn't look like a
very round plate. It's beautiful and the color of blue is
perfection.