Vanda Leaves Dehydrated
Q. My vanda types are showing new leaves but the older leaves are "wrinkly". They are in full sun til about 11am and 50% after that. I thought they looked dehydrated so I started the summer nighttime watering regimen Courtney Hackney recommended in last month’s Tips. The vanda has responded with new rootlets. Will the top leaves lose their wrinkled appearance?
A. Courtney’s night watering program is working well for me too, particularly with the vandas. I think it is just so hot during the summer that the plants dry too rapidly with only one or two morning sprays. Watering at night lets the plants absorb water over several hours. In another week or two, your vanda leaves should rehydrate and be plump and fleshy again. (Aug-10)

Remove Salt Deposits from Clay Pots
Q. I cleaned used clay pots recently. First I clean out all the dead roots, media, etc. and rinse well. Next they go into a big tub with some bleach for about 36 hours. Next is a rinse and then refill the tub with water and cover with black plastic, done in full sun so the water gets very warm. This rinsing is done 2 times for about 24 hours each. Adding heat to speed up the dissolving process did not remove the salts. Maybe some acid added to the water will do better at breaking the salt bonds. An internet site search recommends soaking in a mild vinegar solution. I’m thinking muriatic acid. Why use a pop gun when a shotgun is available at the pool supply store?
A. Fred Clarke's advice on cleaning pots is to wash with soap and an abrasive pad to physically clean the pot and then do 2 consecutive soaks with 20% bleach solution with a disinfectant (Consan, Physan or 10% pool algaecide at 2 tsp/gal)  for disease elimination.  My observation is that after these soaks that total up to about 36 hrs, the salts are gone or at least the visible evidence of salts is gone.  We turned to our Go-To Guy Courtney Hackney for an answer, he writes: Not all salts that precipitate into the clay matrix of a pot will go back into solution regardless of the temperature. Our water is normally alkaline and to remove stubborn salt stains, you may have to change the pH of the water to acid. Use white vinegar because it is cheap and easy to work with (stronger acids can harm you and the pot).  Soak the pot overnight in pure white vinegar to remove the salt.  If this doesn’t work, you might consider buying new pots. (Aug-10)

Stress Delays Normal Blooming Cycle
Q. I had a little scale on my cattleyas earlier in the year.  Could this cause major delays in blooming?  My nodosa and brassia types have developed bud sheaths that have been the same size now for several weeks.
A. Stress can cause a delay in the normal blooming cycle. Stress from a pest infestation, application of heavy duty chemicals, excessive winter cold or summer heat can all cause a little shock to the plant. Sometimes it takes several months for an orchid to transform its sheath to a flower and some orchids form a sheath and then take a rest before blooming. Regardless of what may have stressed them before, your plants are healthy looking and growing well now. They’ll bloom for you when they are ready! (Aug-10)