Question
Hello Mr. King,
I have a vanda orchid that was flourishing for about a year. This winter, the plant began growing a new root, then suddenly the old roots all shriveld and the leaves all fell off...including the part that the leaves grow out of.I have no idea what happened to it; I was sure it was going to die. I have managed to get the roots back to normal. They are bright green and seen healthy, but no luck with leaves. It gets plenty of light and water. I feed it ocassionlally with 20-20-20. Is there anything else I can do to encourage the plant to grow leaves again?  Is it capable of growing new leaves since the "crown" I believe it's called, is also gone?  Thank You  Emily

Answer
Emily, leaves on a vanda originate from nodes along its length (unlike a phalaenopsis).  At this point you should be able to hang it outside in a semishaded location. Once it's hanging in its basket you should be able to spray or mist it daily.  It will benefit from the air movement and increased humidity more than from anything else you can do. Patience is required to restore the plant to its former self.  Winter is rough on vandas because of the low humidity.