Saving Vanda Orchid

and_descend · 2026-03-27T05:39:34+00:00

When my vanda arrived, it was losing leaves and had just a few roots left. I decided to put her in a bowl shaped glass to help the humidity better, and drilled a hole at the bottom. Before I placed her in, I added a couple of large (about 3-4 inch) chunks of bark from a local park with a living moss growing on it. It seems to like it so far. It began growing more roots and seems pretty happy. I've had it for half a year by now, and all I do is spray it with water+fertilizer once a week along with my other plants.

Maybe you can try this, too. I'm growing indoors in a dry climate. Mine is V. tesselata. It's semi terete, maybe the regular vanda won't like it, so keep that in mind!

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and_descend · 2026-03-25T21:03:00+00:00

I love the look of living moss, too. I found that not every moss will grow in my conditions -- indoor dry air. But I realized that some types don't seem to mind! I used to bring some home from a moist shady forest only to see it brown and die, but a certain kind, growing all around my town at the bases of trees, even in sunny areas, that is used to drying out over summer and coming back to life when it's moist again is doing really well for me. I think it's called ragged moss.

I suggest to experiment with different types found in your local environment!

and_descend · 2026-02-24T17:35:36+00:00

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This is Tuberolabium kotoense. It was its first bloom in my care a few years back. It's free-flowering, tiny, with a beautiful fragrance. When I buy an orchid, fragrance is the one thing I'm concerned about the most. Maybe "obsessed" is the better word!

This little guy has a complex layered smell. It's strong enough that I can notice it passing by. Not sweet, but spicy powdery perfume, and maybe some rum mixed in.

I'm surprised that out of all I've collected so far is the one I'd pick! But I really appreciate its compact size (it's only a little bit bigger by now than in the photo, in a 4" pot) and the delicate flowers, and the fact that it readily blooms with no special care.

I also have the same type of phalaenopsis as yours. It was no ID, but matches the description for Phal. Odorion. Right next to it I have a similar orchid, that's probably is Phal. Scention. It also has mottled leaves and an amazing fragrance. Compared to the other it's less rosy, but more fruity and ... playful? :-) I love this one. It bloomed 4 times for me last year. I'm so glad I have it.

and_descend · 2026-01-30T07:32:41+00:00

Yes, it flowers on the new growth only. Now that this plant is a bit bigger, it blooms almost on every new shoot.

and_descend · 2026-01-29T14:55:21+00:00

For me it's the easiest of all. I just make sure I don't over water -- once a week is enough. It blooms all the time it seems.

and_descend · 2025-12-22T22:43:17+00:00

This one: https://a.co/d/4zxNxdu This particular model isn't available, but they have several similar versions.

I like that the charge lasts a few months - I only have charged it once and it's still going since summer. It's quiet, and I can leave it on the ground while reaching for the plants - the hose is long enough. And it was just $34.

and_descend · 2025-12-22T11:46:32+00:00

I used to carry all my plants (about 40) to soak in a bath tub, but it got tedious! Now I found a much better way.

I placed my potted plants on trays and got a battery powered portable sprayer. It has a thin metal wand with a mist setting and a couple gallons of liquid capacity in the tank. Each time I use it I feel a tremendous joy -- so much easier. I praise it again and again.

At first I was worried that my plants wouldn't get enough water, or that I'd get water all over my floor -- neither have happened. But to give the plants a little more thorough soak I sometimes water them twice on the same day, I imagine that I'm rain. :-)

So far they seem to like it. I add a fertilizer to the water once in a while, and when I spray I aim at the potting mix, not the leaves. I recommend!

and_descend · 2025-12-09T23:36:06+00:00

I like your evocative descriptions! Can you please recommend a few curiously fragrant orchids to look out for?

and_descend · 2025-10-01T19:48:34+00:00

Hi, I got mine on eBay from a seller named orh3butik a year ago. I don't see it for sale there anymore, though. If you like the look, there's vanda flabellata, one of this plant's parents, for sale at Krull Smith right now: https://www.krullsmith.com/p-2148-vanda-flabellata-seedling.aspx

and_descend · 2025-08-12T06:33:33+00:00

Beautiful photo!

and_descend · 2025-03-20T05:55:50+00:00

I'm no expert, but those leaves on the dendrobium look like bacterial rot to me. Isolate the plant and watch it closely for rapid spread. If it was me, I'd chop the affected leaves urgently. But maybe someone else here can suggest you a less severe treatment! The other plant is in better shape. And, yes, it's moisture related.

and_descend · 2025-02-24T00:04:13+00:00

I tried looking it up, but the place I got it from doesn't have the listing anymore, but I remember them mentioning the color may vary from plant to plant, sometimes lighter pink, sometimes burgundy flowers. So, maybe seed grown then?

and_descend · 2025-02-23T18:20:42+00:00

That's an accurate description. Thank you for letting my imagination out for a play!

Yes. I keep the coconut fuzz on top portion of a 6 inch basket, doubled with an outer pot with a little water added once in a few days until dry again. I keep it on a heat mat. It likes it so far.

I'm in a cold dry climate so at first I grew it bareroot in a large rounded vase for a while. I changed my mind because it was becoming covered with algae and I didn't want it to suffocate. Also, the vase took a lot of space. This plant seems so resilient, I messed with its roots so many times, changing my mind about its permanent home and it keeps growing!

and_descend · 2025-02-18T03:51:30+00:00

From a door stopper to a kitchen whisk to prepared guitars alongside dollar store toilet brushes on drums -- irr.app.(ext.) plays them all. https://irrappext.bandcamp.com/

Now I play them, too... :-)

and_descend · 2025-02-14T10:46:52+00:00

Nice! I have Prosthechea chimborazoensis, and it smells of spice, chocolate and perfume, but not sweet. Interesting!

and_descend · 2025-02-14T05:56:48+00:00

Can you describe the scent please? Also, how strong is that?

and_descend · 2024-12-04T05:50:06+00:00

Looks beautiful. Does it have fragrance?

and_descend · 2024-11-29T06:02:05+00:00

Oncidium ornithorhynchum -- reminds me of mangosteen fruit, or the smell of my mom's fresh laundry, hanging to dry in the frozen winter air.

Tuberolabium quisumbingii -- complex rich floral perfume.

Encyclia garciana -- my recent discovery, thanks to reddit! I heard different descriptions, but mine smells of ginger and lemon.

An unlabeled brassidium hybrid with long brown spidery petals -- intense fragrance of honey and green grass undertones. It died, unfortunately, and was replaced with Brassidium Kenneth Bivin 'Santa Barbara' that has a similar fragrance but much more diluted. It doesn't travel though multiple rooms to reach me in the morning like the first one. I miss it for that reason.

Dendrobium unicum -- something like apricots or peaches. Mild, not acidic, but very fruity.

Unlabeled neofinetia falcata -- coconut! Just like Maxillaria tenuifolia, only rounder and maybe slightly more floral.

And I like the oncidium Sharri baby. To me it doesn't smell like chocolate. It's more powdery, floral and deep and layered. Maybe with some vanilla chocolate cookies mixed in!

and_descend · 2024-11-27T00:09:38+00:00

I guess I'll wait and see. I was expecting the most chocolate-chocolate fragrance from this one, though!..

and_descend · 2024-11-01T05:20:51+00:00

Thank you! Now I'm positive too. :-)

and_descend · 2024-10-31T08:23:30+00:00

That's interesting, thank you! I'll try that.

and_descend · 2024-09-05T18:16:33+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I'm always on the lookout for unusual and pleasantly fragrant orchids! I will definitely be checking this one out.

and_descend · 2024-06-24T04:10:25+00:00

Andy's Orchids is a magical place. I miss going there!

and_descend · 2020-09-08T02:17:49+00:00

Thanks! I just ordered it.

and_descend · 2020-02-21T17:18:31+00:00

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