This wonderful Vanda is now blooming again. I bought this as a seedling in 2009 and it first bloomed last September. The very best thing about this orchid is that the flowers last fo such a long time, well over two months. The pendant flowers measure about 2 cm wide presented on a one to three flowered inflorescence. It really got a boost hanging outside last summer, developing the beginnings of six flower spikes. Only two bloomed out that fall, but all of the rest remained green and now they seem to become active again and more are forming. I can only imagine how amazing it would be if they would decide to bloom all at once.
Vanda alpina, or as it says on my name tag Trudelia, is a miniature intermediate to cool growing epiphyte from Himalaya to Southern Yunnan in China. The species is often mislabeled and often Vanda alpina plants actually turn out to be Vanda cristata. The difference between the two is that V cristata has horns on the apex of the lip and V alpina does not. I grow it intermediate in a wood basket hanging in the window under rather bright light.
Vanda alpina (Lindl.) Lindl., Fol. Orchid. 4: 10 (1853). Synonym: Trudelia alpina (Lindl.) Garay, Orchid Digest 50: 76 (1986).
Hi Karma,
It really is lovely. I just came across this educational post: http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchidtalk/cattleyas-vandas-dendrobiums-bloom/19446-vanda-alpina-blooming-vietnam.html that shows the differences between three similar species V. alpina, cristata, and pumila and thought you would find it interesting.
Thank you Jacob! Interesting post about the differences in the three species. I wonder if it varies a lot more than that, from clone to clone. Looking at mine it basically looks just like V cristata, but no horns on the lip, the alpina in the photos you linked to had a very short lip. Interesting to see. I like mine though, the clearly defined stripes and longer lip. 🙂
I myself don’t know anything about the taxonomy of this group, but I think they’re all attractive species. Your plant is very handsome and your photos are really beautiful; I especially like the luminous 3rd photo.
Thank you Jacob!! 🙂
I like the stripes too. Species concept is after all not a clearly defined principle in plant taxonomy, and I bet alpina and cristata have considerable variations. Holotypes are often just snapshots that do not accurately reflect on the diversity of a greater population.
There is a local grower who has a MASSIVE specimen of this or cristata in her greenhouse; it must have upwards of 12 branches, at least 1m x 1m x 1m or even larger. Too bad I didn’t get a photo when I had the chance.
Someday it may take over your house 😛
Ha ha ha… I hope this one will one day take over my house! Worse things could happen. 🙂 It is an awesome species. A bummer about monopodials though… you cannot divide them (easily), or I would send you a piece of mine.