new around here - Orchid Board

orchidwild · #1 07-10-2008, 01:58 PM

all. i have just joined and am an amateur. i was looking for care tips for my brassia. i have two phals which i seems to be keeping happy but the brassia seems to have very different habits and needs. any suggestions?

Ang · #2 07-10-2008, 02:30 PM

I have a couple that seem to be loving about 50-70 % humidity, medium light, 70- 79 degree temperatures and keeping the medium moist.
I water it about every 3 days because I live in dry Arizona. And I fertilize them twice a week because they are spiking.
I hope it helps.

orchidwild · #3 07-10-2008, 05:05 PM

Thanks Ang! This was purchased for me as a gift. It was grown by a local orchid-growing business here in Colorado, so I'm hoping that (a) we have enough light here and (b) it's not too low in humidity. It's potted in large wood chips--I can't see any moss or anything else other than some perlite. I have lots of questions but maybe there's a page that will answer many of them? Like, how do you tell whether or not another spike is coming? I notice that most of the lower parts of the leaf clusters are wrinkled but the one that just bloomed is plump and smooth.

tuvoc · #4 07-10-2008, 06:09 PM

Welcome aboard, orchidwild. Just browse around the forums for a while. You'll find answers to questions you never knew you had. I know I did. And always ask away if you don't. Above all, have fun.

Kim

MuscleGirl'sHobby · #5 07-11-2008, 08:23 PM

This is a great place for the amateur grower! I fit that category as well and have learned a lot just browsing the forums. So welcome to the forum!

Chubidubi · #6 07-11-2008, 08:27 PM

Orchid

have fun around here

priz_m · #7 07-12-2008, 02:29 PM

Welcome to the OB orchidwild!

Although I don't currently have brassias as part of my growing collection I am confident you will find all the help you need here.

Ask away!

orchidwild · #8 07-12-2008, 03:01 PM

Hello all!
Thanks for the welcome everyone. I have learned lots of great tips already but still wonder about my brassia. It was in bloom when given to me but the blossoms dropped after four weeks or so. I think it needs TLC--it was the last one at the nursery and has some damaged leaves, but the roots are white and firm, and it has grown a few new roots as well. I have it in a south window and in Colorado that means a moderate sun level for at least 11 hours per day. My single biggest question is, what is the little growth on the base of one of the leaf clusters? There is what looks like a developing spray of leaves which is different from any other growth on the plant. This little cluster also has fine rootlike hairs. Can anyone tell from my amateur description what this is? Is this how brassias develop keikis?

Roly0217 · #9 07-13-2008, 11:43 AM

Orchidwild and

to the OB !!!! I believe that what you are refering to is possibly a new pseudobulb that is starting to grow; at the beginning it won't look like the others but after a month or so it will acquire the plump shape. The others that are not plump means that they aren't holding too much liquid in them. It's a way of saying "I NEED WATER !!!" when the pseudobulbs start shlivering. You should let it dry between watering but it needs to be watered about one a week or so depending on your weather.

Roly0217 · #10 07-13-2008, 11:55 AM

I didn't want to make the message so long so I'm going to continue here.

If you haven't cut the spike yet on the Brassia do so since they only flower once per spike. You will get new spikes from new growths which start after the flowering season is over. Now that new one that's starting will need time to grow and mature and then it will send out new spikes of flowers hopefully sometime next year.