Growing Vandas Indoors in Dry Conditions

In this video I talk about how to grow vanda orchids indoors, however I neglect to mention they need very bright conditions. Please keep that in mind when growing them. They need very bright indirect light, a bit more than cattleya level light to properly bloom (except for the neofinetia types)
IG @nicoledeannaorchids
Growing Conditions & Climate:
Almost all orchids grown indoors
Eastern Exposures (4-5 hours direct early morning sun) & LED Grow Lights
- Most orchids grow under the lights
- Only cool growers & orchids in bloom grow under my Eastern facing windows
- Grow space doesn’t get any additional sunlight other than the LED’s
Zone 7a - Humid Subtropical
All of the products I use are linked below. Disclaimer I may earn a small commission on any of the Amazon Links that you use. Thanks for your support!
~Pots I use~
Self Watering / Leca:
7.5” Self Watering Pots (New): amzn.to/3saQiPH
7” Self Watering Pots (New): amzn.to/36zr9G7
5” Square Self Watering Pots (New): amzn.to/334Y5kR
4” Square Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/337Uh2a
6” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/3aXsjdH (Fits 6” Repotme Inner Pot)
4” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/3eLKswm (Fits 4” Repotme Inner Pot)
4.5” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/2RfN25I (Fits 5” Repotme Inner Pot or Small Deli Container)
7” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/3nF7eKc (I add S/H holes for flushing - No Inner Pot)
6” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/3aWLXqm (I add S/H holes for flushing - No Inner Pot)
Inner Pots:
4” Clear Inner Pot: amzn.to/3xIAMvh
3” - 6” Clear Inner Pot Assortment: amzn.to/3e7hkAp
Cheap Swap: 16oz Deli container is the same size as 5” Repotme pot, just shorter
Organic / Non Self Watering:
5” Pots With Saucer (New): amzn.to/3h7amMx
5.75” Pots with Saucer (New): amzn.to/35km8jR
4.25” Pots with Saucer (New): amzn.to/33FEj35
3.5” Round Ceramic Pots: amzn.to/3vx4aTh (Fits 2” & 3” Repotme Pots)
5.5” Round Ceramic Pots: amzn.to/3vy4zoo (Fits most 5” Inner Pots)
4.7” Round Ceramic Pots: amzn.to/2QRufO1 (Fits most 4” Inner Pots)
~Materials I use for Repotting~
Self Watering / Leca:
LECA: amzn.to/3aStSth
Pebble Top Layer: amzn.to/3nD4s8q
Wicks: amzn.to/337Bcgt
Organic:
All Purpose Monterrey Bark Mix: amzn.to/3tgAic1
NZ Sphagnum Moss: amzn.to/3aTVhv0
Coconut Husk: amzn.to/36HkHJQ
Horticultural Charcoal: amzn.to/3riqXRE
~Fertilizers, Supplements & Pest Control ~
Naturalyte Insect Control: amzn.to/3o0NLFh
Bloom City Clean Kelp: amzn.to/3vElju3
SuperThrive: amzn.to/3vBhAh3
Neem Oil: amzn.to/3xDQAPL
Calmag: amzn.to/3vAezxl
MSU Fertilizer: amzn.to/33FEj35
MSU Slow Release Fertilizer: amzn.to/33FEj35
PH Control Kit: amzn.to/3vBY2ce (I use the test vial to measure the PH)
~Lights & Equipment~
Wifi Smart Plugs: amzn.to/31smm72
Power Strip with Timer: amzn.to/3gW1hHC
Levoit Humidifier: amzn.to/3eMcBn1
Shelf Liners: amzn.to/2SaiH8T
Shelves (3 Foot): amzn.to/3gUV0vH
Shelves (4 Foot): amzn.to/3Fawv6p
Monios Lights: amzn.to/2Sk12vI (Have bloomed Cattleyas for me)
Kihung Lights: amzn.to/3eLyPW4 (Good for Medium & Low Light Orchids)
Continuous Water Mister: amzn.to/3nHG3ON
Orchid Hobbyist Lights: botanicalleds....

[@jeromelin7734]

I’m growing my vandas indoors under LEDs in plastic pots in moss/bark/leca. I have a Neofinetia in full moss, tesselata and tricolor in a mix, and Rhynchostylis in a semi hydro setup and I keep them on a heat mat because they grow hot. Winters are really dry but my grow room stays pretty warm so this works well for me! Hoping your small ones pull through! 🙏

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thanks for sharing your setup, it sounds great, and the heat mats are wonderful for them. Happy growing 💗🎈

[@mjrjw.1916]

Thank you for sharing your experience in Vandas. I'm growing 2 regular size Vandas ( Pachara Delight and Goodwin's Glitzy Gala) in orchid pots with lots of whole in bark medium. They are growing well indoors, yes they need A Lot of Light to bloom. I soak them in water for about 10 minutes then let them dry out well. My Rhy cartoon is doing well. It's just a pup but it managed to put out 2 new leafs this year. It has a little bump in between the leafs. I'm crossing my fingers for a spike development. Currently in bark medium. Finally I have a Vandaenopsis Pulcherrimin. Like The Neo Vanda this one is very easy to grow. Stays short and is rather a cool plant. Will put out multiple spikes and I suspect the little bumps that are spikes developing. This one has a bark/sphagnum mix. I soak this one for about 10 minutes as well. Feeding wise I fertilze them every 2 weeks. I thought I would share my experience in vandas with you.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you for sharing! It's always nice to hear how other growers have success with them. Appreciate you watching ❤️

[@vienna844]

Take care of your Vandas!!!

[@robertlukacevic1811]

Great video! I'm growing the majority of my vanda type orchids in water culture. I tend to soak them a couple days of the week and let them dry out but also keep about an inch of water in the bottom of the container. Most are sending out new healthy roots. I've been doing this for only about 8 months so far, so I'm not sure how they will do in the long term. I did have to cut off a significant amount of roots (maybe 80%) to get them into the containers. I saw no issues with this drastic move.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thanks for watching and for sharing your experience! I'm also curious to hear how they do over time with a bit of water in the reservoir. Keep me posted!

[@lisascenic]

Thanks for your insight. A friend gave me a number of plants when he moved, snd I’m struggling with the bare root vandas.

[@NicoleDeanna]

I hope getting them potted helps!

[@marium1866]

Great video! Thank you! I also live in NYS and I'd love an update after a while to hear how they are doing in the new setup and also how that really unwell orchid is now.

[@rutherosado8718]

I am always looking to see your videos🙌🙌🙌I have no problem growing vandas my problem is how big they grow. I went crazy with the flowers and got too passionate and now five years later I had to give them away😫😫but they are doing great they are in the perfect setup now. I don’t like coconut husk it was a disaster for me. Clay pots and moss or bark are definitely the best but it took me couple of years to realize it🤣🤣

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you Ruth, I really appreciate your comments ❤️ I know the feeling of not realizing a set up is good until years later. Just today I wish I never used semi hydro lol

[@OrchidboyTroy]

I love your videos! Always something new to be learned 😊 I am so happy I decided to give moss a go, once I figured out the watering haha It’s been such a dream to grow in for me. Thank you so much!!

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thanks so much ❤️ I'm glad moss is working out for you!

[@hillbillyorchids]

Vandas can be touchy! I do have high humidity but i soak once a week. Mine are in coconut husk pots with roots outside the pots. So they seem to like my set up. But the high humidity must be a help. Hope yours pull through. 😊

[@NicoleDeanna]

They really are touchy if you're a stingy waterer like me 😂 your vandas are delightful to see. They are GOALSS. You have such a nice, varied collection!

[@hillbillyorchids]

@NicoleDeanna Thanks sweetie 🩷🩷🩷

[@woowooone]

This was very helpful indeed! Thank you

[@NicoleDeanna]

I'm glad, thanks for watching 💗

[@richardlewis8911]

I have five Vanda’s in my collection and I’m located in Maryland. Two of the large vanda’s are growing in terracotta pots with chunky lump coal and the smaller three are potted up like phal’s in terracotta pots. I grow them outside in the summer and inside in the winter. So far I’ve had great success with this method. I tend to not water them most of the time because of a busy schedule. In the winter I only water once a week and few times a week during summer. Other then that they aren’t that fussy.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thanks for sharing your you grow them, sounds like a great setup!

[@anndriggers6660]

You could sphag and bag your other vanda that's in coco husk, so that it can develope some new roots to sustain itself. I know you'll find a way to save it though...

[@NicoleDeanna]

That's a good idea! May try this!

[@jeff818edm7]

thanks for this video I have 2 vandas both are Areides hybrids, alil larger than the Falcata vandas. I’ve had the same issues too, choosing the right media. Im in a dry climate high desert Northen Nevada and always have the temperature hovering year long around 70. I been using Gubler’s bark mix for phals and so far its been okay. I watering is a 10 min soak every 3 days. I was originally planing to alternate with the wicking of spagnum moss and layer with coarse bark but thought medium bark could a good in between.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Sounds like a good set up for you. Thank you for watching ❣️

[@shirleyholt898]

Hi Nicole. I only have Neofinetia and Renanthera Monachica x sib. They are growing ok. I may try moss in clay pots when they need repotting. Thanks for sharing a great idea. 👏🥰

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thanks for watching! I hear good things about the Renanthera. Keep me posted on how they do after you repot them!

[@besottedorchids3605]

Nicole, i have a few neofenetias, grown in bark and potted in clay. My only larger vanda is a pachara. Its in clay/ bark. I do set it in a bowl and allow the escaping roots to stay moist.

[@NicoleDeanna]

I love neos. Makes sense your bigger vanda is in quick drying clay and bark, it's probably very happy in that set up

[@plantyhappyandneedcoffee]

Do you have an update video about your vandas?

[@besottedorchids3605]

Omg i think you should start a collaboration where orchid you tubers, title the videos ",,its me, im the problem it's me"

[@NicoleDeanna]

😂😂😂😂 that's a good idea

[@JKL0427]

very large bark in plastic pots. Key is to soak for a few hours once a week if there is a lot of roots, and otherwise twice

[@jenwestbrook1350]

After 5mths how are everything doing? Love the videos, would love more updates please!! Sounds like your original falcata didn't make it after coming out of semi hydro?

[@NicoleDeanna]

Will do as I do the monthly update. Check out my recent shorts I quickly show them as a part of flushing my shelves. Original falcata is still alive but really tiny, just one fan but pushing roots 🤞

[@BobGP1]

Start from seedlings in pots and then you can treat them like phalaenopsis... I'm in the UK.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you for this ❤️

[@DanysOrchidsSoCA]

I love large Vandas, but I am an indoor grower, just like you, and my house is very hot and dry in summer, and cold and dry in winter. I have tried many different setups: bare root, in moss, in bark, in Leca.... In the end they all died. Every. Single. One. The roots just got too dry if bare rooted, even when watering every day. But they rot if potted into any kind of media. I am curious about the moss setup you use. Is the moss very loose or packed up tight? How do you water? Do you soak the moss really wet, or just sprinkle it to make it moist? Do you use tap water or RO water? Do you flush? Thanks of any help you may kindly give me in keeping Vandas alive. I really enjoy your videos.

[@NicoleDeanna]

The moss is pretty loose and I try to water as thoroughly as possible and drench them because they dry fast in the clay pots which are still pretty small at 4". I also have a fan pointed at them so they are dry within 2 days. I hope I've discovered the trick, because they are hard to keep indoors in dry conditions!! Good luck to us :))

[@NicoleDeanna]

I also flush monthly and use tap water. NYC tap water is low in excess minerals

[@DanysOrchidsSoCA]

Thank you so much!! I'll try to do that with my last one still alive, a Renanthera monachica @@NicoleDeanna

[@harveyschneider9644]

The only way I can get my vandas to prosper is to give them copious amounts of water. Every time I lighten up on watering, they stop growing and drop their spikes.

[@NicoleDeanna]

I find that I need to water them often as well, almost daily! It's a lot of work lol

[@lidiajimenez2728]

👍😊

[@NicoleDeanna]

💗💗

[@woowooone]

I didn't see the link to the video where you repotted a large Vanda, can you give me the link?

[@NicoleDeanna]

Sure, here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6fSqqWseLupe5Ysi=_gF96rMQTzf77Aql

[@woowooone]

@@NicoleDeanna thank you so much

[@sue5061]

the Vanda in the white pot looks like it has mealy bugs or is it just the photo???

[@NicoleDeanna]

They don't have mealy bugs, but one has spidermite damage that has the leaves scarred a bit white.

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

my issue isn't growing Vandas, I am _terrible_ at blooming them.

[@NicoleDeanna]

I understand. I remember you told me about the Rainbow Stars. You probably have 20 fans on it by now. I hope it blooms in the most epic fashion!

[@vienna844]

It takes 5 minutes… just do it

[@NicoleDeanna]

Not when you have 200 of them :)