Brassia Witch Doctor

[skip1958]

I got it from a friend about a year ago it was in bad shape but have been nursing it back. New to this Is it normal for old bulbs to shrivel. Concern it has sent up a new spike and I was very excited then the tips leaves tuned brown so I trimmed of the bad. Also cut back the watering and seems to be doing much better. It also is sitting higher in the pot and sending roots out should I divide it and repot thanks appreciate any help

[kiki-do]

Yes, the older bulbs will shrivel some. Brassias are not my specialty (well, nothing is really) but I believe they don't like their leaves wet...so don't mist....and cutting back on water seems like a good idea. If it's sending out roots you must be doing something very right!

[skip1958]

Thanks apprecite it

[Ross]

Brassias do this. They send up new bulbs higher than the older ones (unlike Cats and others) this is because they are Epiphytic (They grow on trees.) Yes the older back bulbs shrivel like that. That is normal. Don't divide the plant until you can't stand the size. It does much better blooming when larger. By the way, new roots come only from the new growths, so if you kill off the roots, guess where the new guys come from?

[Leisurely]

Skip, I agree with the info. provided by Kiki-do and Ross. It seems to me that beginning growers always seem to have a tendency to over water. I know I did and killed a lot of plants in the beginning. Learning when to water can be a real challenge. A good rule of thumb is when you think a plant needs to be watered, wait another day or two. Orchids succumb much quicker to too much water than they do with too little. Growing plants a little on the dry side will often produce a great root system. What we should be striving for is growing roots, not plants. If we have a healthy, happy, hearty root system, we will also have a healthy, happy, hearty plant.

[skip1958]

thanks very much