Growing Vanda Boonyarit Red

Vanda's are easy to grow on the Sunshine Coast, with a climate matching the original habitat of many Vanda species.

Vanda Boonyarit Red

The orchid Vanda Boonyarit Red is a hybrid originated by B.Metheekasiwat in 2007. It is a cross of V. Brighton’s Delight x V. Yip Sum Wah. The species parents are V. sanderiana, V. curvifolia, V. coerulea, V. luzonica, ? V. tricolor, V. dearei. Like many Vanda’s, V. sanderiana contributes to the size of the bloom and V. curvifolia provides the red colouring.

Growing conditions

In nature, Vanda’s can be found growing on trees at elevations of sea-level to 500 meters close to the sea, often hanging over the water throughout South East Asia. In particular, the Philippines and Thailand.

Light: Vanda orchids need bright light, but not direct sunlight. They can tolerate some morning or afternoon sun, but avoid midday sun.

Temperature: They prefer warm temperatures, between 18°C and 30°C. They can tolerate temperatures as low as 13°C and as high as 35° C, but only for short periods. Avoid sudden temperature changes or cold drafts.

Humidity: Vandas thrive in a high humidity environment, between 65% and 85%. You can increase humidity by using humidifiers, misting the plant daily, or placing it on a tray of pebbles with water.

Water: Vanda orchids should be watered frequently, especially during the spring and summer months, which is the growing season. Water them thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes, then let them dry out slightly before watering again. Do not let them sit in water or become soggy.

Fertiliser: Vanda orchids are heavy feeders and need a balanced fertiliser (such as 20-20-20) weekly during the growing season. You can switch to a high-phosphorus fertiliser (such as 10-30- 20) every third application to promote flowering. During cool or cloudy weather, reduce fertiliser to every two to four weeks.

Repotting: Vanda orchids do not need to be repotted often, only when they outgrow their pots or baskets. They can be grown in pots with a chunky bark medium or other media that does not hold onto moisture, or in hanging baskets with no medium at all. Repot them carefully in spring, avoiding damage to their roots.

The plant, pictured left, was purchased at one of the many orchid club shows on the Sunshine Coast, but the original tag indicates that it originated from Aranbeem Orchids at Deception Bay near Brisbane. It is grown without any media or basket and is simply hung using Bonsai wire with a loop under the roots. We concentrate on keeping the roots healthy, looking for a vibrant green tip to indicate active growing.

During the warmer months, the roots are watered every morning. When the weather turns cooler this is reduced to only a couple of times a week. The growing area also includes a pebble base that helps retain the humidity.

Written by Dean & Rosanna