Vanda

VANDA

I grew up quite convinced that I would never grow Vanda with any serious intent. It is a genus with serious tropical tendencies. I have dipped an occasional toe in their tropical waters but only as an amusement to pass time through the flippant days of summer.
Recent taxonomic changes have included the genus Neofinetia in Vanda so it now contains a cold tolerant Japanese species and that was enough to attract my attention. Time will tell if it will adapt to conditions in a cold greenhouse in Cornwall.
Having used a selection of bark and aggregate compsts for a couple of years and feeling that they were too wet, in 2026 I reverted to moss to see if it improved root growth.

Japanese varieties of Vanda falcata often use what is called "gei" names. These are names used to descripbe a group of plants thet share the same essential characteristics. These have been equated to group manes in western nomenclature but the concept is not in conflict with the western idea of a cultivar. I have used single quote and styled plants as cultivars throughout this page, though the reader should be aware that sometimes these refer to seedling groups or other groups of plants.
Of course in many cases the Japanese name refers to a single clone and the parrallel with the concept of a cultivar is simple.

Vanda falcata.

Vanda falcata

Vanda falcata 'Amami'

Vanda falcata 'Beniogi'

Vanda falcata 'Fugaku'

Vanda falcata 'Higashidemiyako'

Vanda falcata 'Hisui'

Vanda falcata 'Houmeiden'

Vanda falcata 'Kibana'

Vanda falcata 'Kinkabuto'

Vanda falcata 'Kinkabuto green'

Vanda falcata 'Kinyuko'