I don't have Vanda's in LR, but have some bare root Schombo's in a 6" plastic vanda basket with tree fern chunks and large LR's. The roots are happy weaving in and out! This works best for me as I like to water them everyday or let the sprinklers do the job.

Many of the Hawaiian growers use lava rock because of the high rainfall which rots other media. And shipping lava rock often causes it to grind itself into a powder from the motion.

Lava rock is wonderful in high humidity, high rainfall areas. It probably will not work for you though, Sheila.

Shiela I'm growing all my Vanda family orchids in basket pots with lava rock. When the roots escape the container, I weave them back into the basket to make contact with the lava rock. This is the only picture I have that almost shows the whole pot. This is Renantherea Singaporeas 'Scarlett'

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I also grow a couple of Ascos, a couple of Asco/Vanda crosses and my lone Vanda, the tricolor. I am too lazy to water more than once a day and find the lava rock retains enough moisture to solve my problem.

I think you can grow an orchid in anything as long as you know when it is dry :>)

Brooke

I guess what I don't understand is if you have so much rainfall and humidity, why is media for vandas necessary in the first place when you can just plunk them into a basket bareroot? I would think lava rock would be good for situations like Sheilas where you don't have enough humidity to maintain the roots and need some form of very airy potting media to help you along. Color me confused!

terp, it keeps them from tipping over on the benches and on the ground. Not every commerical nursery grows hanging plants in baskets. And it holds a bit of moisture if it misses a few days of rain. Commercial operations have different methods, concerns and needs than hobbyists do.

Ah, I see. Thanks CJ.

Thx guys. What I need is something to hold a bit of moisture. I can't be here every day for watering. When I leave, my few vandas get moved into the GH to avoid our extreme heat. My concern is that the LR would hold too much moisture and cause root rot.

Shiela if the basket/lava rock combination caused root rot, I would remove the lava rock.

Brooke

Sheila

do you really mean lava rock which holds no water at all, or do you mean a hydroponic rock that retains about 8% humidity.

Most Vanda in Hawaii are grown in pots to 4 inches as it is more economical. It takes less space and wood baskets rot before they are sold. Shipping a basket from Hawaii is also considerably more than shipping a pot. So most of your concerns are economical in origin, not necessary good or bad for the plant.

I shipped some 6 and 8 inch baskets today to California and the cost of shipping clobbered any profit I may have had. There is a sur-charge for shipments based on box size, much higher than the actual weight charges.

Same problem when I shipped to you.

Aloha is a good place to get orchids, I've got several from there.

Jerry I didn't know LR wouldn't hold ANY moisture. When I use it, it's mixed with clay pellets & sponge rock. The plant was shipped in LR alone. When it's finished blooming I'll move it into a clay pot with some large mix. A grower who posts on the 'other' forum, uses a clay pot, bare roots, then topped with small net pots and finally a 2" layer of spag on top . He waters thoroughly, then waits till the spag is crunchy to water again. I'm going to tweak this method just a bit and try it with these plants (including the one I got from you. BTW, those blooms matured out to be a gorgeous color! Worth the extra postage I paid)