You don't need to be an expert or have a heated greenhouse to enjoy these exotic blooms - buying and growing orchids is easier than ever, discovers Adrian Bishop.
In the following articles we will looking in detail at vanda orchids, moth orchids (phalaenopsis) and cymbidiums. This article focuses on vandas.
 
 
 
 
 
Beautiful vanda orchids can have huge 12.5cm (5in) and naturally grow on trees and rocks in tropical Asia and Australia. Given the right temperatures and plenty of sun, they will grow all year round and flower one to three times a year. The blooms last six to eight weeks.
 
Where to grow:
Vandas should be kept between 18-25 degrees C (65-77 degree F), but they can tolerate up to 35 degrees C (95 degrees F). At night, they should be kept above 12 degrees C (54 degrees F). Although they love plenty of light, they are unable to withstand direct sunlight for long. Too much light will fade and shrivel the leaves and cause burn marks. Too little light will cause the leaves to go dark green and the flowers to fade, or fail to open.
 
Growing tips:
The easiest way to water a vanda is to stand the plant in a vase. When the weather is warm, the vase should be filled twice a week. When cool, it should be watered weekly, preferably in the morning. When the vase is filled with water, air bubbles will escape from the plants roots, because the roots absorb the water like a sponge. After about 10 minutes, no more bubbles will appear and the remaining water can be poured away.
Regular spraying with a hand mister is beneficial. A standard balanced fertiliser, available from florists and garen centres, should be used monthly. A full dose should be given when sunny and a half dose when cloudy.
 
Buying tips:
Expect to pay from £20 upwards for hanging plants and £45 for blooms in a big glass vase. Anco Orchidee is the main supplier: this Dutch firm has been growing vandas for 10 years and is the country's biggest nursery. The plants are grown to strict ecological standards; they are raised in Thailand for five years before being flown to Holland, grown on for a further year and then sold in garden centres. The main breed is Blue Magic, but there are many other varieties and colours. They are quite tricky to keep watered without a vase, so it's a worthwhile investment unless you are prepared to dip them regularly in a clean bucket and hang them up by wires.