Winter is finally coming to a close here in the USA, and spring is bringing in lots of sunshine and warmth into the Orchid Garden to grow some of the most beautiful orchids. Just imagine orchids hanging in baskets with long tendrals of roots reaching to the floor and sprays of rainbow colored flowers as large as 10cm reaching up to the sun. In this article I am going to tell you about such plants called Vandaceous orchids. All orchids that have the same characteristics as the Vanda genus is called a vandaceous orchid and they are grouped together to form the Vanda Alliance. Included in this group are the Vandas, Ascocentrum, Aerides, Renanthera, Rhynchostylis, Arandas, Mokaras, Kegawaras,-- all belong to the Genera of Vanda.and between these, they form many hybrids like my favorites Ascocenda and Vandaenopsis. Most of these are monopodial in habit, with aerial roots appearing along the stem. Many of the orchids in these groups have nicknames like Scorpion Orchids or Spider orchids.
Many of the Vanda Alliance species originated in tropical Asia and are now grown in lath houses. Along with their hybrids, they are producing the most fantastic flowers you can imagine.
Vandaceous orchids are divided into three groups and are categorized by the shape of their leaves:
Strap-leaf - Ascocentrum miniatum is just one example of these types of orchids. They have broad, flat, leathery leaves. This group likes lots of warmth and partial shade around noontime. You will find species such as sanderiana, merrillii, coerulea and the genus Ascocentrum in this group along with many hybrids.Terete - Orchids that have leaves shaped like a thin round pencil. They love full sun and lots of humidity and warmth. V. teres and V. hookeriana are samples of this type of orchid and of course we can not forget the most famous Terete Vanda, which is also the National Flower of Singapore, Vanda Miss Joaquim 'Agnes'.
Semi-terete - such as Ascda.Emma.and other orchid Hybrids between the Strap-leaf and Terete types. Their leaves are thin like the pencils, but are flatter. They like warmth and partial shade like the Strap-leaf orchids.
Vandaceous orchids are very easy to grow IF you can provide the critical amount of sunshine and warmth they require. If you live in a warm climate such as Florida or Hawaii, you can grow these outside year round. In these areas, they are grown in lath houses, on patios or in trees where they receive some full morning sun and partial shade from the hot afternoon
 |
