Plant Profile: Vanda
Traits: Sun, Shade, Coastal, Feature, Hedge, Container
This is a group of about 50 species of epiphytic orchids with representatives from Sri Lanka and India, across Southeast Asia to New Guinea and northeastern Australia. They have showy long-lasting blooms, which come in a range of colors. This is one of the most important genera of plants for cut-flower production in Thailand and Singapore. A large export industry has developed using a handful of species in an extensive hybridizing program, both within Vanda and in combination with related genera. The "terete-leafed" vandas have been reclassified and now belong to the genus Papilionanthe, but for many, they remain known by their familiar earlier names.
Flowering Season: Summer, Spring
Vandas are sturdy, erect-growing, single-stemmed orchids. Each stem has 2 rows of deeply channeled, fairly short, strap-like leaves. Larger plants may branch at the base, and have numerous, very thick, cord-like roots. The flowers appear from the stem at the base of the leaf, and occur in several distinct forms: some are in solid colors; some are mottled or spotted; some have a much-reduced lip; and some have a large lobed lip. Those with particularly long-lasting blooms are grown as cut flowers. In the tropics, many vandas bloom throughout the year, with a peak in spring and summer.
Vanda plants are easy to grow in wooden baskets, with most thriving in bright, humid, and warm to intermediate conditions. Use a coarse grade of pine bark as the potting medium. The thick roots will often venture outside the confines of the pot or basket, and this culture is to be encouraged as the roots require unimpeded air circulation and must dry out quickly after watering. During the warmer months they require liberal watering; reduce this over winter. These plants are mostly frost tender. Propagate from cuttings.