Brassavola nodosa keikis?!?! - Orchid Board

InspirChid1712 · #1 10-18-2011, 06:49 PM

Hi Everybody!

My friend Erica has an AWESOME Brassavola nodosa that I had sent to her for her birthday a few years back (from Oak Hill Gardens- yes, I'm advertising!).

The plant has had a rough year between being repotted to a basket, being blown away in a windstorm, and being chewed on by kitties! It has STILL managed to produce two flowers (usually it has several spikes with MANY flowers...), but it also produced a few keikis where spikes should have formed!!! One small one broke off while she was watering the plant, so it went into a pot and straight to me! The two tiny roots are only half an inch long (if that...).

My question is: NOW WHAT?!?! The single leaf has turned purple-ish, yet limp, over the past few days. I have placed it in a baggie with a damp paper towel and it gets great southern lighting... I'd really like this to become a huge success story, so I wondered if there are any other techniques I could employ? Any thoughts?

Thanks guys... Ya'll are the best!!!!

Libo · #2 10-18-2011, 07:30 PM

Well, I am no expert at saving orchids, but all the tiny plants I have with roots, I just grow them in S/H and they survived well. Rootless ones are harder to save.

isurus79 · #3 10-18-2011, 08:47 PM

I would pot it in a 2" pot with some osmunda chunks or one big chunk. B. nodosa likes to dry out, so don't keep it too wet for too long. Osmunda dries pretty quickly but is not as dry as mounting it, so you could water every day or every other day and it should do really well. An alternative would be putting it on a mount with a big chunk of spag or in a 2" pot with spag/large wood chip mix. Good luck!

Leisurely · #4 10-18-2011, 08:54 PM

Wow! I never heard of B. nodosa making kikis. They are pretty tough plants so with minimal care you should be able to grow it. Just remember not to kill it with kindness because they do like to grow on the dry side especially during the colder months.

I have a large specimen plant that puts out a nice display every summer and I have an awarded plant that has an FCC that I have had for four years and all it does is grow and has never bloomed.

isurus79 · #5 10-18-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leisurely

I have a large specimen plant that puts out a nice display every summer and I have an awarded plant that has an FCC that I have had for four years and all it does is grow and has never bloomed.

More light maybe?

Leisurely · #6 10-18-2011, 09:15 PM

No Steve. They are co-located.

isurus79 · #7 10-18-2011, 09:20 PM

Hmmmmm, strange!! I don't want to hijack this thread, so shoot me a PM if you want to chat about your large nodosa some more. I love a good mystery!!

InspirChid1712 · #8 10-18-2011, 10:30 PM

I forgot to mention... I have it in a 2" pot with some very lightly placed moss and bark... and I have the single 3" leaf held down firmly with 2 pieces of wire. It seems to get bone-dry within 24hrs, so I hope the plant will approve? I figure if I keep it fairly dry, but with high humidity, those conditions might prompt some rooting? The roots are VERY small, half an inch at best, but I think this tough little guy could turn into a huge specimen someday with the right care!

(Hopefully a huge MOUNTED specimen... I have the PERFECT log for it!!!)

isurus79 · #9 10-18-2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InspirChid1712

It seems to get bone-dry within 24hrs, so I hope the plant will approve?

Sounds good! Water it 5 or 6 times per week with 14 hour days, it should grow FAST!!