Mounting Brassavola nodosa 'little stars'; culture advice please

[DTEguy]

I am about to receive B. little stars and will be mounting it on cork. I believe they are currently potted in bark. I am in DC area, and it's pretty humid here; relative humidity is high 40s-50s and it will be grown indoors.

I did a search in the forums and gathered the following information. Please feel free give this beginner any input!

- should be watered heavily during growth period but I am confused with 'grown on a drier side'

- How should this plant be fertilized? Is seaweed/auxin bad for lateral growth?

- Personally do not like moss but it seems like it is beneficial for acclimation?

[Bud]

WELCOME ABOARD!

In the warmer months while the roots and leaves are developing...it should be watered heavily in the growth period...
"grown on a drier side" means you need to let the roots dry out before watering...as opposed to 'grow moist but not wet'...means you need to water without waiting for the plant to dry...
you fertilize it weekly weakly and you may use seaweed or any of the fertilizer you are comfortable with using...I alternate Algoflash and seaweed weekly
putting some moss around the roots while mounted; the plant will be able to establish itself easier on the cork mount...then you can remove it if it decays...

[DTEguy]

Thanks Bud!

[DTEguy]

One more thing, should the moss go underneath the roots, on top or both?

I saw some people said nothing should go between plant and slab as you want the new roots to go freely onto the slab?

Thanks

[orchidsarefun]

mine is currently on a cork slab, no moss backing, and hanging on a tree branch - in dappled shade. I sprinkle with hose every now and again. Its growing very well, leaves have a reddish tinge ( as expected ). I am spraying it with weak fertiliser roughly once per week.
I had it inside until the weather warmed up. It can and does take quite a bit of sun.

[Bud]

Brassavola nodosa gets to establish its roots on the cork slab quite easily. You want the roots to touch the cork directly and then cover the roots with moss to retain moisture for a few months... when the plant gets established to the mount; you will notice that the moss will either be alive and co-exist with the plant or decay and fade away

[DTEguy]

Thank you guys! I appreciate it the tips!

[isurus79]

The above advise is good indeed. I have one more thing to add though. When you get your plant, don't rush to mount it. Wait until it is actively putting out new roots from a new growth. Your plant will acclimate MUCH quicker this way. Many plants have a tendency to resent being re-potted with the old root system and this is doubly true for mounting a plant. The reason is that the roots currently attached to the plant are adapted to growing in a pot and suddenly being exposed to air (even if covered in a wad of spag) will stress the plant. However, if you mount the plant just as new roots are being produced, those new roots will be adapted to growing on a mount and the plant won't skip a beat in its growth/bloom cycle.

[DTEguy]

Originally Posted by isurus79

The above advise is good indeed. I have one more thing to add though. When you get your plant, don't rush to mount it. Wait until it is actively putting out new roots from a new growth. Your plant will acclimate MUCH quicker this way. Many plants have a tendency to resent being re-potted with the old root system and this is doubly true for mounting a plant. The reason is that the roots currently attached to the plant are adapted to growing in a pot and suddenly being exposed to air (even if covered in a wad of spag) will stress the plant. However, if you mount the plant just as new roots are being produced, those new roots will be adapted to growing on a mount and the plant won't skip a beat in its growth/bloom cycle.

Thanks for the advice Isurus and that is really interesting. I was wondering when you say new roots, do you mean a new root the main plant or the little nubs from the existing roots?

I'm thinking that you mean from the main plant since those are the ones that will be conditioned according to the new environment as it grows? Or perhaps any root activity period.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by DTEguy

I'm thinking that you mean from the main plant since those are the ones that will be conditioned according to the new environment as it grows?

Exactly right!