Decaying Brassavola nodosa, please help!

[Tango]

Hi everybody,

One month ago I bought a Brassavola nodosa on the Internet, and the nursery (C*****en Orchids) sent quite a miserable plant with most roots dead. I repotted it to a very airy medium (1 cm bark chunks) and now that it looked like starting to grow (very tiny and shy growths are starting to appear, see photo) 2 of the old leaves fell within the last week.

It is in a small pot with slits all around, on a shady windowsill. I water it every 3-4 days when it is already dry.

What would you do with the plant? Leave it and wait? Unpot it? Please help!

Thank you very much.

[Fairorchids]

I grow in a greenhouse. For both B. nodosa (100%) and nodasa hybrids (50%).

I find that I get the best growth & blooming, when potted in a net pot with a spaghnum/bark mix (3:1). This provides both good air flow and high humidity around the roots.

I just bought a division of Bc. Edna (B. nodosa x Sophronitis coccinea). It was mounted on a piece of cedar; plant had 7 old pseudobulbs and two leads. I transplanted into net pot with almost pure spaghnum. It is now giving me 7 new growths.

[Veksa]

Tango, have you repotted it? It looks like a pot is quite big for it. I have very limited experience yet, but do not sее anything critically wrong. Old roots do not matter much, new roots should grow from new shots. I'd try to find a smaller container, or just leave it as is and let it acllimate to your conditions.

[Roberta]

I don't see any problem with the pot size, since the bark is large - good air spaces. Just know that orchids grow slowly... it may take several months to see any progress. Water well, let the water run through the pot, then let it nearly dry out, and repeat. Your watering sounds about right. Orchids teach patience...

[camille1585]

I have a hunch that the nursery in question is in the Netherlands, right? If so, that is exactly the sort of plant quality you can expect from them. A lot of plants I buy there need to be nursed back to health...

I also think that what you are doing is the right idea, and wouldn't touch it. Just keep on doing what your doing! The new growths are good news, those are the ones that will put out the much needed new roots.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I agree that your current potting should work for your Brassavola. Do what you are doing now, "wait and see".

In a year, if you are still unhappy with how it is doing, try the net pot previously suggested, or you can try mounting it.

[Tango]

Thank you very much for your ideas. I think I will leave it as it is.
Yes Camille, that Dutch orchid nursery. Or better said, morgue.
Let's wait and see!
Thanks again!