These orchids have unique growing requirements, but caring for a Vanda is, once understood, quite straightforward. As always, our starting point is to take a look at their natural habitat. Then we will know how to provide a similar environment in our own home.

Natural Habitat

Vanda orchids occur naturally in New Guinea, some islands in the western Pacific, and in East and Southeast Asia. They’re often found in the jungle, so they are used to humid, tropical environments.

Most Vandas are epiphytes. This means that in the wild, they tend to grow in gaps or crevasses in tree bark, or in the joints of tree limbs. However, they’re sometimes found growing on rocks too.

This type of growing environment can be mimicked in cultivation to keep the plants happy and healthy.

How to Care for a Vanda Orchid

Now that we know what a Vanda’s natural habitat looks like, we can break this down into a few different aspects.

Light

In general, these orchids require a lot of light. Exactly how much light a Vanda orchid requires depends mostly on the species and the type of leaves the plant has.

Vandas can have three types of leaves, depending on the species:

• Strap leaves: these are long and broad.
• Terete leaves: these are rounded leaves, retain water, and are nearly tubular in shape.
• Semi-terete: these fall somewhere between terete and strap in shape.

Plants with strap leaves or semi-terete leaves need partial shade and protection from the sun during the warmest parts of the day. Those with terete leaves prefer full sun.

If you’re keeping your Vanda orchid indoors, place it by a south-facing window, if possible.

Related: How Much Light Do Orchids Need?

Temperature

Vanda orchids prefer warm temperatures. Temperatures should be between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night, with daytime temperatures reaching no more than 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Although they can tolerate slightly colder temperatures, it is not optimal, and temperatures should not drop to below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Humidity

These orchids thrive in a high humidity environment. Remember, they come from a tropical natural habitat. Humidity levels of 50 percent and greater are best, with a humidity level of 80 percent considered ideal.

You can raise humidity levels using a humidifier or grouping plants together. Be careful – it’s also essential to maintain free airflow around the plants to prevent rot and bacteria.

Watering

Vanda orchids should be watered frequently, especially during the spring and summer months, which is the growing season. In autumn and winter, watering can be reduced.

The roots should remain moist but should never be soggy. A well-draining, loose potting medium can aid in keeping the roots dry.

Potting Mix

Because Vanda orchids naturally cling to cliff walls or spaces in tree bark, they require minimal potting medium. In high humidity environments, they require almost no potting medium at all.

You should choose a coarser mix that drains well, such as large pieces of fir bark. Alternatively, you can use a charcoal medium or a gritty soil that retains little water.

Pot / Hanging Basket

These plants grow from a single large stem and generally have a substantial aerial root structure. As a result, they thrive in loose net pots, or in hanging baskets.

Hanging Vanda orchids is popular not only because it makes for an attractive display, but also because it is a more natural environment for the plant.

A basket with slats can simply be hung from a beam or ceiling, and the plant can be placed inside. Exposing the roots to the air actually benefits the plant’s growth.

Another option for hanging Vanda orchids is mounting them to driftwood. Plants can simply be tied gently to driftwood, and the wood can then be hung using eyehooks. To water, the entire piece of driftwood, including the plant’s roots, can be dipped in a bowl.

Repotting

When placed in a basket, Vanda plants can be left alone for years at a time without repotting. They only need repotting about once every two years, although some sources suggest every year as a better timescale.

Before repotting, soak the plant’s roots in water to make them more pliable. Trim away any dead or rotting roots, place the plant in a larger basket or clay pot with new potting medium, and allow it to remain dry for several days before watering again.

Blooms

Vandas are among a handful of orchids that can produce truly blue flowers. For this reason, they are prized by gardeners interested in creating hybrids.

They feature large, brightly colored blooms with rounded petals, and grow to a variety of sizes, depending on the species.

These orchids come in many colors, including white, orange, pink, and red, and any mixes of these colors. However, the most popular and often the most visually appealing colors are purple and blue. These can range from lighter shades to dark, vibrant ones.

Vanda orchids bloom frequently (generally, every few months) and, depending on the species, can bloom at all times of the year. The blooms themselves can last anywhere from a few weeks to a month or two.

Pruning

These orchids can benefit from occasional, careful pruning. Trimming back the old stems will encourage the plant to bloom again during the next flowering cycle.

Once a stalk has finished blooming, cut it back as far as possible. When trimming the plant’s stems or roots, always be sure to use a sharp, sterilized knife or pair of scissors to minimize damage to the plant and reduce the risk of transmitting diseases.

Care Summary

Here’s a quick recap of all the different care aspects:

Types of Vanda

This genus is quite diverse, with about 80 different species. Common species include:

Vanda ampullacea

• Bright pink in color
• A smaller plant, with blooms only one to two inches across
• Blooms in spring and summer

Vanda coerulea

• Commonly known as the blue orchid
• Produce large purple-blue flowers
• Blooms in the autumn months
• Juice from the flowers can be used in eye drops to fight glaucoma, and may also fight aging

Vanda cristata

• Produces pale green flowers with a red and white center
• Also known as the comb Vanda
• Blooms during the spring and summer months

Vanda sanderiana

• Commonly known as waling-waling
• Produces pink and white blooms, four to six inches across
• Blooms in the spring and summer months

Vanda ustii

• Found only in the Philippines
• Produces yellow flowers with a pink center
• Flowers have a distinct rounded petal, nearly tubular in shape

Vanda hindsii

• Known as the Cape York Vanda or native strap orchid
• Flowers are brownish red with green, yellow and white markings
• Flowers from late autumn until early spring

Vanda tricolor

• Also known as the soft Vanda
• Produces white flowers with red and pink markings
• Blooms in autumn and winter

Do you love these orchids as much as we do? Let us know about your experiences growing Vandas in the comments below.

The post Vanda Orchids: Beginner’s Care Guide & Pictures appeared first on Brilliant Orchids.

Few animals or plants exhibit blue pigment, so this leads to an important question:

Are Blue Orchids Real?

There isn’t a straight yes or no answer here, because it all depends on your definition of real. There is a difference between a flower that is naturally blue in the wild and one that is artificially blue.

Are those stunning blue orchid flowers from the store real flowers? Yes, they are real flowers that grow naturally and have real petals. You can continue to care for them in the same way as other orchids.

If you’re curious about them, you can check a few of them out here:

Did those orchids start out that way? No. Unless you have a Vanda orchid, this is not a natural color, and you essentially have an artificial flower.

So, How Are These Real Flowers Such a Fake Shade of Blue?

There are a few different “species” of blue orchid out there. These are highly sought after for the uniformity and vibrancy of their color. They often have fancy names like Ocean Breeze, Blue Mystique, and Blue Sapphire.

These flowers are so perfect that they look straight out if a child’s coloring book, or as if they had been injected with food coloring. The reality isn’t far off. This is a form of human intervention, and it doesn’t last.

A dye is injected into a white Phalaenopsis orchid to create this vivid blue effect. An even bigger disappointment to orchid lovers is that the next bloom will be white. The genetic make-up of the plant takes over once the first bloom has finished.

Are There Any Naturally Blue Orchids?

The true blue gene is present in some orchids, but not many.

The Vanda orchid variety contains one naturally-occurring species that is probably the bluest you will find. It’s a softer blue with a purple tone rather than the electric blue of the Mystique or Sapphire.

This dappled blue Vanda orchid is more delicate than the showy fake blue orchids above. It was first discovered by a botanist called Dr. William Griffith in 1837 in the Himalayas. In the wild, it can produce as many as 30 flowers per plant, which adds to its appeal amongst orchid hunters.

If you like the look of these naturally blue Vandas, make sure you check out our Vanda care guide for more pictures, information, and care instructions!

Other Blue Flowers That Are Easier to Care For

Vanda orchids might not be as easy to look after as you hope – or as blue. Thankfully, there are lots of other blue garden flowers that are just as spectacular.

• The Himalayan poppy is arguably the most stunning shade of blue in the natural world. It isn’t far from the color of the Blue Sapphire Orchid. But, it isn’t the hardiest.
• The cornflower offers a splash of deep, vibrant blue to any wildflower meadow and is easy to grow.
• A delphinium is more on the purple end of the spectrum, yet it has a deep color and looks great with high borders.
• Hydrangea can be a vibrant blue shrub, but only with the right acidity level in the soil.
• Tiny forget-me-not flowers are an excellent contrast when bordered by redder tones.

Want to learn more about orchids? Check out our Types of Orchid page for care guides, pictures, and information.

The post Are Blue Orchids Real? Yes and No… Here’s Why appeared first on Brilliant Orchids.