Brassia arachnoidea

[MrHappyRotter]

Brassia arachnoidea

I'm certain I posted this before. The effects of the sudden cold weather are apparent this time around. I've had to keep the heater running and the humidity has dipped a few times. With Brassia, low humidity often prevents the lips from unfurling completely, and in the case of this blooming, you can see a slight bit of damage at the tips.

It's a fairly small growing brassia, seems mostly trouble free and blooms regularly under fluorescent lights. It has a fairly strong scent. Nothing that one could call classically beautiful, but it's nice (to me) and very distinct. Hard to describe it.

[Lanceolata]

Beautifull flower, nice spike. Petals look quite firm.
Indeed the flowers look like they have had some cold damage.
Thanks for sharing!

[No-Pro-mwa]

It's lovely. I really like these with there spikes.

[MrHappyRotter]

Originally Posted by Lanceolata

Beautifull flower, nice spike. Petals look quite firm.
Indeed the flowers look like they have had some cold damage.
Thanks for sharing!

I might not have been clear, I meant that the lips are damaged from lack of humidity not from cold.

It's only been cold outside, but indoors it's stayed warm. However, to keep it warm I've had to crank up the heating system, which saps the air of moisture. I do have a humidifier, but I've been lazy and haven't pulled it out of storage.

By the way, did you notice the missing pollen caps? Those are the ones I collected for you!

[WhiteRabbit]

Gorgeous!

[Paul]

Very nice! Love the Brassia but, unfortunately, they're just far too large for my growing space. Too bad there aren't any that would fit the mini category.

[RandomGemini]

Originally Posted by Paul

Very nice! Love the Brassia but, unfortunately, they're just far too large for my growing space. Too bad there aren't any that would fit the mini category.

I had this same question a while back and someone recommended I get Ada Aurantiaca. While not a truly tiny plant, it stays fairly small compared to others of its type. It's under a foot tall. Pseudobulbs are maybe an inch or so high? Mine spiked while it was still in quarantine. I hadn't even put it under my lights yet.

[nikkik]

Very pretty!

[silken]

Very nice. I like how well behaved all the blooms are as they line up and face the same way

[MrHappyRotter]

Originally Posted by Paul

Very nice! Love the Brassia but, unfortunately, they're just far too large for my growing space. Too bad there aren't any that would fit the mini category.

I stick to the smaller species. The big issue with the small growers is that some of them grow on stolons. This species is about 9" - 11" (up to 28cm) tall.

Brassia caudata is about half that size, has the classic long petalled spidery flowers that smell nice.

But I agree, even though some would call caudata a mini Brassia, it still isn't what one would call a miniature.