Vanda alpina orchid, also called as The Montane Vanda, Trudelia alpine, is native to the western Himalayas, Assam, eastern Himlayas, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and southern China
Vanda alpina orchid, also called as The Montane Vanda, Trudelia alpina ,is a species of Vanda genus. Several synonyms are known for this species such as Luisia alpina Lindl. 1838, Stauropsis alpina (Lindl.) Tang & F.T.Wang 1951, Trudelia alpina ( Lindl. ) Garay 1986. Vanda alpina was found in 1836 by Gibson in India, he sent the plants to England, where the plant was described by Lindley in 1838 as Luisia alpina . Garay introduced in 1986 the genus Trudelia with Trudelia alpina as a type species, which, however, is now regarded again as a synonym for Vanda . The very similar Vanda griffithii is sometimes synonymous with Vanda alpina . The others as Trudelia arranged species are also quite similar, such as Vanda cristata and Vanda chlorosanthes.
VANDA ALPINA ORCHID DISTRIBUTION
Vanda alpina orchid is native to the western Himalayas, Assam, eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and southern China in warm broad-leafed forests at elevations of 1200 to 2000 meters as a miniature sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with a terete stem enveloped completely by imbricate leaf-bearing sheaths and carrying broadly linear to oblong, arched, unequally bilobed apically leaves that blooms in the late spring and early summer on a short to 8" (2 cm) long, 1 to 3 flowered, glabrous inflorescence with ovate, subacute sheaths and triangular, obtuse floral bracts and carrying pendant flowers.
VANDA ALPINA ORCHID DESCRIPTION
Vanda alpina grows as a monopodial epiphyte . The shoot reaches a length of 5 to 18 cm at 0,5 to 1 cm in diameter. The two-rowed, leathery or slightly fleshy thickened leaves are 5 to 16 cm long and 0,7 to 1,4 cm wide. The tip is asymmetrical two-lobed. In June to July, two or three inflorescences appear, each from a leaf axillum. The inflorescence axis is 1,5 to 2,5 cm long, one to three fragrant flowers are in the front third. The oval-triangular bracts are 0,2 to 0,3 cm in size. Peduncle and ovary are yellowish green and measure 1,2 to 2 cm.
The flowers are fleshy, yellowish-green, they do not open very far, their diameter is 1,2 to 2 cm. The sepals are narrow oval, 1,1 to 1,5 cm long and 0,4 to 0,6 cm wide, tapering at the base wedge-shaped. The petals are slightly smaller, somewhat asymmetrical in shape, abruptly narrowed at the base (nailed). The lip has no pronounced spur at the base, but a baggy depression. This is colored red-brown, the base of the lip is white, the blade bright green-yellow with purple stripes. The small, rounded lobes of the trilobed lip are upright and are green on the outside, reddish on the inside. The end of the middle lobe is slightly retracted or indistinctly trilobed, it has two horn-shaped, curved appendages in front. On the lip there can be three longitudinal, short keels. The column is white, 0,3 to 0,4 cm long, semicircular in cross-section. She wears the spherical, white stamen.
GROW AND CARE VANDA ALPINA ORCHID
Humidity of Vanda alpina orchid:
Vanda alpina orchids likes about 60% to 70% of daytime humidity, and 90% to 95% at night, the plants will grow faster. In case of lack of moisture, the plants will dry at the roots and will lead to leaf wilting. Orchids will be difficult to flower if lack of moisture or lack of water.
Watering for Vanda alpina orchid:
Vanda alpina is very hydrophilic. In the summer the plants grow very fast and need more water. You can irrigate a day and twice a day without fear of root rot if grown in a basket without raw materials.
In the winter, less watering, just 2 times a week is enough. When the leaves are soft and wrinkled, which means that the plants are severely dehydrated, we need to water more. Lack of water is also the reason why Vanda is difficult to flower.
Fertilizer application for Vanda alpina orchid:
In winter, less fertilizer or just watering. In the spring, we should apply more fertilizer to stimulate growth and flowering. When flowering, continue to fertilize because Vanda alpina consumes a lot of fertilizer to feed the leaves and flowers. Vanda alpina is more prone to nitro fertilization because it is more light-resistant. Normally, you can use 1/2 teaspoon of fertilizer (20-20-20) dissolved in 1 gallon of water to irrigate the plants. This type of fertilizer can be used all year round. When the root is burnt, ie too much fertilizer, it should stop for a while and only irrigation is sufficient. We will rehydrate again about 2 weeks later.
Light for Vanda alpina orchid:
Vanda alpina orchids likes more light than the Cattleya orchid but does not live directly in the light, as it will easily burn the leaves. When the leaves are yellow it means too much light. If dark green leaves its mean its lacking in light, its may not flower. We can grow Vanda alpina outdoors and use a 50% -55% net to filter out light.
Temperature for Vanda alpina orchid:
Orchid alpina Vanda likes at night temperatures from 50-60 ° F, daytime from 70-90 ° F. At high temperatures we can water the plants more often, like 2 or 3 times a day. At low temperatures, be careful when watering, because if water too much and use cold water, the plants are susceptible to fungal and leaf defects from the root.
Repot Vanda alpina orchid:
Vanda alpina can be grown in pots with charcoal and stone, or grown in a basket without plant material. There is no need to change the pot regularly, about 4 to 5 years to change. If potted in coconut shell or bark should be replaced to new pots 2 years / times. We can use coconut shells or bark soaked with antiseptic and fertilizer for 2 to 5 days to wash the salt in the coconut shell before planting. We use ½ teaspoon of Physan 20 (antiseptic), 1 tablespoon of vitamin B1 (root stimulant), 1 tablespoon of fertilizer (20-20-20) to 1 gallon of water to soak the utensils. After planting, one or two weeks later, back to water, depending on weather climate to allow the roots to dry and recover.
Hope this article can help you in planting this orchids species! Happy growing!
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