Vandas are a natural genus of over 30 species, originating from a wide area of the Old World, from India, South-east Asia and Indonesia to the Philippines, New Guinea and Australia. They head a huge alliance of intergeneric hybrid forms, which include other natural genera such as Ascocentrittn, Rhynchostylis, Renanthera, Arachnis, and many others, including Phalaenopsis and Doritis.
The majority of these plants are warm-growing, light-loving types that grow best in the tropics, where a massive breeding programme has continued apace. The results can be seen in florists' shops where the cut flowers are in great demand. Vandas are monopodial evergreen plants that grow from a central tip on an ever-extending rhizome. As new, semirigid leaves are produced from the apex, the lower ones are eventually lost. After a few years, the plants become "leggy" with a length of bare stem above the pot. Stout aerial roots, formed along the base stem, are a feature of these plants.
Under good culture they make extensive aerial roots, which form a dense and protective mass around the base of the plant. A good number of the species are in cultivation, in addition to a few hybrids, which are generally little improvement upon the fantastic species.
The crossing of these two plants produced the lovely, deep blue V. Rothschildiana, and this one hybrid ha done more to promote the genus in the northern hemisphere than any other orchid. V. Rothschildiana will grow with exceptional ease and bloom two to three times a year. The plants can grow considerably tall, up to 1m (3ft), making an impressive specimen when in bloom The large, rounded blooms are over 7cm (3in) across and will last for several weele at a time. In addition, there are other variously coloured vandas and intergeneric hybrids available.
Look out for the brilliantly coloured, often smaller-flowered ascocendas (Vanda x Ascocentrum). These are often more popular than the pure vandas because of their neat habit and upright flower spikes, which are crowded with beautiful, symmetrical flowers in fiery reds, gorgeous oranges and deep yellows. While some are self-coloured, others display extreme tessellating or mottling on the petals and sepals. Temperature is warm-growing.
Grow in open slatted baskets in a compost (growing medium) of coarse hark chips to which a few pieces of horticultural charcoal or pumice have been added. Maintain good light all year. Water freely and feed weekly in summer to encourage aerial roots. Mist the foliage on a regular basis. Height: 30-100cm (1 2-36in). - 15266
The majority of these plants are warm-growing, light-loving types that grow best in the tropics, where a massive breeding programme has continued apace. The results can be seen in florists' shops where the cut flowers are in great demand. Vandas are monopodial evergreen plants that grow from a central tip on an ever-extending rhizome. As new, semirigid leaves are produced from the apex, the lower ones are eventually lost. After a few years, the plants become "leggy" with a length of bare stem above the pot. Stout aerial roots, formed along the base stem, are a feature of these plants.
Under good culture they make extensive aerial roots, which form a dense and protective mass around the base of the plant. A good number of the species are in cultivation, in addition to a few hybrids, which are generally little improvement upon the fantastic species.
The crossing of these two plants produced the lovely, deep blue V. Rothschildiana, and this one hybrid ha done more to promote the genus in the northern hemisphere than any other orchid. V. Rothschildiana will grow with exceptional ease and bloom two to three times a year. The plants can grow considerably tall, up to 1m (3ft), making an impressive specimen when in bloom The large, rounded blooms are over 7cm (3in) across and will last for several weele at a time. In addition, there are other variously coloured vandas and intergeneric hybrids available.
Look out for the brilliantly coloured, often smaller-flowered ascocendas (Vanda x Ascocentrum). These are often more popular than the pure vandas because of their neat habit and upright flower spikes, which are crowded with beautiful, symmetrical flowers in fiery reds, gorgeous oranges and deep yellows. While some are self-coloured, others display extreme tessellating or mottling on the petals and sepals. Temperature is warm-growing.
Grow in open slatted baskets in a compost (growing medium) of coarse hark chips to which a few pieces of horticultural charcoal or pumice have been added. Maintain good light all year. Water freely and feed weekly in summer to encourage aerial roots. Mist the foliage on a regular basis. Height: 30-100cm (1 2-36in). - 15266
