Vanda orchids

Vanda is the monopodial lowland-tropical orchid of Southeast Asia, known for enormous flat flowers in saturated colours (including the rare true blue of Vanda coerulea). Plants grow upward from a single stem, with thick aerial roots hanging below and broad leaves arranged in two ranks. In the tropics, Vandas grow in slatted baskets with no medium and bare roots exposed to air, misted or drenched daily.

Outside the tropics, Vandas demand serious commitment. Their light, heat, humidity, and watering requirements are all at the intense end of orchid culture, and casual indoor growing rarely works. Growers in colder climates keep them in warm greenhouses, orchid cabinets, or bright sunroom windows with a humidifier running.

General care for the genus (species, hybrids and cultivars vary, so check with the grower for a specific plant): very high light (4,000+ footcandles), warm temperatures year-round (18 °C minimum nights, 30 °C daytime common), high humidity (70 to 80 percent), daily watering when conditions are right (a Vanda that gets truly saturated once a day, with roots drying completely between, does well).

Famous species include Vanda coerulea, Vanda sanderiana (once Euanthe sanderiana), and Vanda tessellata. Mimi Palmer is a widely grown fragrant hybrid. Listings below come from the nurseries we index, most of them re-checked nightly; prices are shown in USD.