Vanda Orchid

The Vanda orchids are known for their large, showy flowers. Like the distantly-related Phalaenopsis, they are monopodial orchids, but typically have many more leaves on the stem. They also like rather different growing conditions: in particular, Vanda light is guaranteed to cause sunburn in Phalaenopsis. These plants have very large, beautiful flowers in a wide range of colors; they have been widely hybridized to produce some very spectacular plants, and there are also many intergeneric hybrids with related orchid types.

Vanda coerulea supra ('Superior Blue' × 'Blue Monday')
(About orchid names)
Vanda coerulea supra, also known as Lord Rothschild's Variety, is the closest you'll find to a blue orchid. (There's no such thing as a truly blue orchid.)

The plants originate in parts of Asia, particularly Southeast Asia.

Vandas generally like warm daytime temperatures between 70°F (21C) and 95°F (35C), with a 10-15°F drop at night (6-8C). They also like high lighting, such as 3,000-5,000 footcandles, even more than Cattleyas. They can be gradually adapted to even higher lighting in many cases.

Try to provide humidity of about 70%. 50% is probably the least you can get away with.

They like a lot of air to the roots, so if you have enough humidity and can water at least daily, growing them barerooted in teak baskets works well. Otherwise, I suggest coarse orchid bark, charcoal, wine corks, or some other coarse potting mix, in a clay pot. Water as they approach dryness, as they don't have a way to store water.

Many Vandas can bloom 2-3 times a year.

Return from Vanda Orchid to Types of Orchids

Return from Vanda Orchid to Orchid Care Tips Home