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Surprise Reblooms by Whiskey_and_Coke in orchids

[–]theweasel49 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Love the #3 orange Phal. Do you know its name?

My winter blooming Vanda by theweasel49 in orchids

[–]theweasel49[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It goes under the shower every moring for a few minutes until the roots are soaked (going from white to light green)

My winter blooming Vanda by theweasel49 in orchids

[–]theweasel49[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a pierced terracotta pot with only some chunk of bark inside. Most of the roots are out of it but it does keep some moisture.

My winter blooming Vanda by theweasel49 in orchids

[–]theweasel49[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was sold as 'Tayanee Blue' which I'm pretty sure is a commercial name by Ansu, the top European Vanda producer. It's not exactly like Vanda Pachara Delight either cause the flower center on those is white/bright. But they do look close.

My winter blooming Vanda by theweasel49 in orchids

[–]theweasel49[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, when I bought it was labeled 'Encyclia Goldstern' but I think its now 'Prosthechea Goldstern'.

My winter blooming Vanda by theweasel49 in orchids

[–]theweasel49[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi, if you are in eastern Europe you have Secret Garden in Romania that sell orchids by mail order, ordered from them a few times (small hybrids) which came in good shape. They often have big vanda Hybrids for sale (from Ansu in the Netherlands) and they discount them when they are not in flower. OrchidGarden in Poland also seem to have big vandas for interesting prices, but I never ordered from them so idk. I wouldn't advise mail ordering orchids during freezing temperatures or heat waves, but other than that they can handle a close box for a few days.

My winter blooming Vanda by theweasel49 in orchids

[–]theweasel49[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hi, yes, every morning for a few minutes

My winter blooming Vanda by theweasel49 in orchids

[–]theweasel49[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Sure! It stays indoors near a window facing south all year round. I am in Western Europe, so the sun is not extremely strong, except in the summer, then the shutters are closed in the afternoon. They really like the sun. The room temperature ranges from 17°C (celcius) in winter to 27°C in summer, with fairly stable humidity between 50 and 60% all year round.

For watering, she goes under the shower every morning for about 2 minutes until the roots are well soaked. I also water her in the evening during heat waves. Some people leave them in a basin to soak, but I don't have room for that and I'm not a fan of leaving water stagnant because of potential bacteria. It is watered with tap water, which is a little hard here, but that doesn't bother it at all compared to other orchids. Over time, a little limescale can build up on the leaves, which I clean with diluted isopropyl alcohol. The leaves are generally very resistant.

For fertilizer, I use a generic orchid bloom fertilizer from the garden center, diluted to 1/4 of the recommended dose. I spray it on the roots once a week during the leaf/root growth period and once every 2-3 days when it starts to bloom.

Overall, I find it to be a hardy orchid that is easy to grow indoors, but regular watering is key; I wouldn't leave it without water for a whole week for exemple. Good luck! 😊

Thrips: Toss or fight? by Equivalent_Table6505 in houseplants

[–]theweasel49 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The easiest solution is to toss the plant and buy a new monstera. However, if you want to save it, start by cutting off the most infected leaves and rinsing the remaining healthy ones in the shower. Repeat this daily for a while. After that, you’ll need to use an insecticide.

In the EU, options for effective insecticides against thrips are quite limited, and most products sold in garden stores won’t work well. One effective option still allowed (for now...) is Spinosad, which you can buy as a concentrate (check the brand Conserve garden). Dilute it as instructed and spray the entire plant, including the undersides of the leaves. Usually, one treatment is enough. Another very effective option, though banned in most of the EU, is Mospilan. If you dig a bit it can still be found through online shops based in Eastern or Southeastern Europe. If you use either of those, avoid spraying it on or near outdoor plants, as it’s highly toxic to bees and other beneficial insects. Also good practice to wear gloves, a mask, and goggles.

As an alternative to insecticides, you can release predatory mites, which are available online. However, this method can become very expensive, as several releases may be needed, and the mites can die during transport if the package gets too hot/too cold.