Brassavola nodosa with brown areas on leaves - Orchid Board

mrs.TF · #1 02-07-2009, 07:37 PM

Hello there,
I have two pots with brassavola nodosa..
They seem to be healthy, but this year they didn't bloom..
There is something going on with their leaves, some of them have brownish areas, some of them whitish areas..

These areas have been there for a long time, and plants seem to be healthy, leaves are green, and i see new little ones, roots are growing too..

I have looked on this forum, and on internet, but i could not find anything relevant..
Any idea what this is?

Thank you very much.

Sandy4453 · #2 02-08-2009, 08:42 AM

I wish I could help you but I really am not sure what's causing this. Did you cut these off or did they fall off? Did you water this during the brightest time of day because it looks like all it may be is a sunburn? And the slight white may be nothing more than hard water buildup. If these fell off, I'd venture to say, there's something wrong going on, otherwise, I don't think you've got much to be concerned with.

OrchidTess · #3 02-08-2009, 09:19 AM

Well for one they don't look like nodosa leaves.
What you have there could be sunburn, cold water drips if you grow in a greenhouse, or a rot.
Can you pot a pic of your whole plant???

mrs.TF · #4 02-08-2009, 08:35 PM

Well, I cut these leaves, they didn't fell..
Indeed, the plant seems healthy, maybe I need to water it more..
Here more photos with the whole pot and with flowers..

Somebody gave it to me, and I was told it is brassavola nodosa..
The pot sits by my apartment window, facing south-east, it is very sunny indeed..There are leves having these brown areas on both sides..

Thanks for your replies..

OrchidTess · #5 02-08-2009, 09:09 PM

You plant looks very nice! The flower sure looks like a nodosa!
My nodosa has more terete leaves and when it gets too much light the leaves turn purple.

susiep · #6 02-08-2009, 09:22 PM

Welcome to OB Ms TF!

Well that is a very nice plant! In these pictures it is easier to tell that it is a Brassavola nodosa. Doesn't it smell great! The leaves do look sunburned

so just put a little screen between it and the full sun. (sometimes I just tape a piece of heavy duty window screen on the window glass to block the sun that is hitting a plant too hard)

However, maybe it is not blooming because it is not happy in that pot. Did you repot it or did it come to you in that pot?

I find they like to have more air to the roots. Mine is in a wood basket and the roots are all over the outside. Plus that is not an orchid pot. Too deep and not enough drainage holes. Plus if any water is collecting in that tray underneath, you could have a plant whose roots are staying too wet. You may want to unpot it to check the roots. Keep us posted on what you find. It is a nice plant and could give you 30+ blooms next year! That is just my

. Hopefully someone else will have a suggestion, too.

mrs.TF · #7 02-08-2009, 11:58 PM

It hasn't bloomed for two years now, since 2006, and i am sad..it used to bloom in november/december..It didn't in 2007 and i thought the pot is too small, that is why..then on march 2008 i repotted it, but this year it didn't bloom either..I see it healthy and nice, a lot of small leaves, but no flowers

I am very careful with the water on the tray, if i see some, i throw it out..
What kind of pot should I buy? How often should i water it?

Thank you very much for your replies..

susiep · #8 02-09-2009, 12:44 AM

I am not sure that the way it is potted has anything to do with it not blooming. It just seems to me that it is potted a little low in the pot and the pot is too deep. Orchid pots are shallower and have slots on the sides for better drainage and air flow. The large pot could allow the media to stay wet and that is not good for roots.

Since I grow in Florida and you are in Canada, I don't feel like I could give the best advice on potting for your growing conditions. Hopefully some of our northern members will offer some advice! My B. nodosa is in a wood basket and that works well for my conditions. See

mojomick · #9 02-15-2009, 10:38 AM

I agree about the pot and if that plant has been in that pot for more than a couple of years, the media may be rotting. I would definitely repot in an orchid pot with new media. As for the leaves turning purplish, I have read that Brassavole like that and it is a sign of good light for them.
Susiep, do you have any media in the basket or are the plants roots anchoring to the basket? Betty