Vanda coerulescens 'The Sky Blue Vanda'

Vanda coerulescens, commonly called the Sky Blue Vanda, is a small to medium-sized species native to parts of the eastern Himalayas, Myanmar, and Thailand, where it grows in seasonally dry forests at moderate elevations. It produces slender, upright stems lined with narrow, leathery leaves. The flowers are borne on arching inflorescences and are typically pale blue to bluish-lavender, often with a soft tessellated pattern on the petals and sepals and a darker blue lip. Each spike can carry numerous blooms, and in cultivation, it is valued for its delicate colouration and compact growth habit.

Care Tips:

• Light – Provide bright, filtered light with some gentle morning or late afternoon sun; avoid intense midday sun.
• Water – Water regularly during the warmer months, allowing roots to dry slightly between waterings; reduce frequency in cooler periods.
• Humidity – Prefers 60–80% humidity with good air circulation.
• Media – Often grown in slatted baskets without media to allow free root growth; can also be grown in coarse orchid bark with excellent drainage.
• Temperature – Performs best between 16–28 °C; avoid temperatures below 12 °C.
• Fertiliser – Feed weekly with a diluted orchid fertiliser during active growth; flush with plain water to prevent salt accumulation.
• Repotting – Repot or transfer to a larger basket when roots become crowded, ideally in spring.