Half-epiphytic or epiphytic orchids have powerful air roots of gray-green color. Stems erect, mostly unbranched with a variety of air roots can grow unlimitedly in height. This plant leaves are belt-shaped, leathery, less common are waxy. Flowers are fragrant, beautifully colored, large, grow on a long peduncle in axillary loose hands, blossom may occur several times a year. Blossom brush about 3 months.
In Asian medicine, flowers, leaves, roots, fruits of a number of species are used. With asthma, tuberculosis, and also in the form of a soothing remedy, flowers that have been rubbed into powder are used. In the roots of the vanda contains alkaloids, which are used for neuralgia and rheumatism in the form of applications, as well as for the treatment of depressions and bronchitis.
Most of the vandas do not need rest, so it should be kept in moist warmth all year round. Only a blue vand needs more dry and cool content in the winter. All kinds of vandas are photophilous, if they are put in the shade, they will bloom badly.
Orchid Vanda in floriculture is considered a very important culture, which is highly valued in cutting. This plant can easily be crossed. Such complex intergeneric hybrids of this plant with Renanthera species, Ascocentrum are known.
When buying orchids, it should be understood that this plant is delicate and requires moist air, a certain watering regime and bright light.
Care and cultivation of the Wanda
Wanda needs intense bright diffuse light, and although it is capable of carrying a certain number of direct rays, nevertheless, at noon it needs to be shaded. Orchids are best placed on windows with a western or eastern exposure. If the plant is located on the southern window, then it must be pritenyat from 11 pm to 17 hours. The northern window is not suitable because it will not be the best to bloom there. With the onset of spring, the plant gradually accustoms to a huge amount of light, otherwise the plant will get burns. To accustom to new lighting is also required if you have just purchased a plant.
With the onset of autumn, the plant does not need to be shaded (except when the plant begins to fade from the midday sun), because during these periods young plants grow young and buds of flowers are planted.
In autumn and winter, the plant needs to be illuminated with daylight lamps, which are placed over the plant for 15-40 cm. Orchids can be placed in hanging baskets.
In the spring and summer, the normal daytime temperature is 18-27 ° C with a "" sign, night at 17C with a plus sign.
Plants can tolerate a temperature increase of up to 35 ° C only under conditions of high air circulation, shading and increased humidity. In summer the plant needs fresh air. In autumn and winter, the normal daytime temperature is 20-22 ° C, and at night the normal temperature is 14 ° C. If the daytime temperature differs from the night temperature by 8-10 degrees, it will contribute to bloom. In the spring and summer, the water should be watered abundantly, the fleshy roots between watering should dry up!
If vandas are grown in lattice tanks or baskets, then watering is carried out by placing all the roots in the water, or by showering under the shower (soak the roots 1-2 hours). If the plant is grown in glassware, then it can be watered in these same vessels, for this the vessel is filled with water until the water covers all the roots and is left for a couple of hours. After a while, the water is completely drained. Water the plant with water at room temperature or a little warmer. Water softeners are not used for watering, as they reduce the salt content. Water better with rainwater, tap water, water with a low amount of minerals.
The humidity of the day should be about 60%, at night it is important that the humidity is high within 80%. Humidity can be increased if a pot with a plant is put in a container, where there is wet clay or peat. But make sure that the water does not come into contact with the pot. In the morning, Wanda prefers spraying.
This kind of orchid needs more fertilizers, so in the spring - summer period, feed the plant twice per month (fertilizing - 0, 001% solution of full mineral fertilizer). With insufficient fertilizer, the vanda does not bloom fully. Excess fertilizer leads to the fact that the plant weakens, the tip becomes soft, and can even bend. Dried up old specimens are rejuvenated with the help of apical cuttings that carry air roots.
Wanda is an orchid, which is best grown in suspended plastic pots, or in wooden basket-boxes with a lot of aeration holes.
The vanda is propagated by the separation of lateral shoots, or the entire top of the old plant. And then the lower part in the axils of the leaves, located at the very bottom, begins to form new plants from the kidneys. Escape is cut to 50% of its length, then the cut is sprinkled with wood pounded coal. Stem cuttings are placed in moist sand. It is important that the sand does not dry up. After 2 weeks, the process can be planted in well-drained pots, in baskets.
Seed method of reproduction of room culture is very complex, because in nature the seeds of this plant grow with the help of symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungus.