Brassavola nodosa (The Lady of the Night Orchid)

[Bud]

Thank You, Rosie!

Yes, Tindomul....it needs higher light

Thanks, Paul !

Thank You, GardenTheater !

[Susie11]

Bud I have a hybrid of this a Bc Tetradip 'Junko'. It is B. nodosa x C. bonanza. I have had it for a year and I am still to see any blooms. I have lots of growth -about eleven new leads, since then but no beautiful blooms. What am I doing wrong? It sits in a south eats window which gets lots of sunlight -when it is out, it gets feed every watering weakly with hign N. I never give it a dry rest as I was told not to. So???? What else can I do?? Please help me to bloom this beauty.

[Bud]

Thank You, Susie11 !
You are right in giving it higher light...but give it winter rest ( December 15 to February 15 ) every other week watering; you can always wing this by looking at the leaves....if it wrinkles spritz the plant with water....then when new leads appear; water it every week until its warmer months where it will need to be watered every other day....fertilizer weekly weakly ....

The hybrids are easier to handle than the specie

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by Bud

Thank You, Susie11 !
You are right in giving it higher light...but give it winter rest ( December 15 to February 15 ) every other week watering; you can always wing this by looking at the leaves....if it wrinkles spritz the plant with water....then when new leads appear; water it every week until its warmer months where it will need to be watered every other day....fertilizer weekly weakly ....

The hybrids are easier to handle than the specie

That's easy for you to say! LOL. Thanks Bud, I shall do as you say and see if it works.

[Bud]

according to the Baker culture: "growing on either trees in lowland tropical forests and
mangrove swamps, or on exposed rocks and cliffs near the shore."

mimic the seaside humidity in your house with humidifiers and oscillating electric fans....the secret ingredient is: "tropical" effects=do not let it feel the frost or the damp cold

[Susie11]

That's where I have been going wrong then Bud as I left it in the front room all through last winter and it got cold in there! I didn't heat that room at all. I shall bring it in my bedroom this winter then. Thanks for the tip.

[Susie11]

Hey Bud, it must have heard me talking about it as today I discovered -much to my amazement- that it has produced it's first ever sheaf!! I had moved it under a daylight bulb two weeks ago and just for the hell of it I just thought I'd have a little look to see if it was about to bloom and guess what? It is!!

My first ever sheaf


I am so happy! Thanks for the pep talk Bud.

[Bud]

I am very happy for you !
Your spike might bring you three to four flowers that will be very fragrant....
I see the roots love the moisture you give it....brighter light was the trigger for your blooms!
and once this flowers; it will keep on flowering for you on every new lead until the rest period

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by Bud

I am very happy for you !
Your spike might bring you three to four flowers that will be very fragrant....
I see the roots love the moisture you give it....brighter light was the trigger for your blooms!
and once this flowers; it will keep on flowering for you on every new lead until the rest period

Excellent! So that means from now until December it will bloom from each new lead? I have about four new leads- currently...Yippee. I didn't give this a winter rest last year as I didn't know that I should, should I do it this year then? Thanks for your help Bud!!

[Bud]

yes do the winter rest this year to have more sturdy flowers this spring....this December 15th water only every other week up til February 15th(hold the fertilizer)....when you see it produce more leads and some new roots...continue with the regular water regimen and fertilizer weekly weakly