B. nodosa questions - Orchid Board

WaterWitchin · #1 10-19-2019, 06:31 PM

I have a B. nodosa from a friend, recently received. Anyone grow this in SH in a successful way? I'm lacking on time today, or I'd otherwise do a bunch of research prior to asking. So my apology in advance. I've never grown this particular species. And would much prefer to grow in SH.

Main question... after I removed it from the pot and got the bark, etc., out, it really expanded. Was originally overgrowing about a 4" pot. And now the pot I was going to put it in won't fit. I'd really rather keep it as one than divide. Someone... with mucho SH experience...Bill Nye? Helloooo Ray?? Helloooo Subrosa?? I found one pot without going out and getting a new one. Is it too shallow? What do ya think? I've been waiting to use this on something crawly, but hate to experiment with something I really want to grow well. I have some 10" plastic containers, but they're so tall it takes more R/O each time to flush than I care to do. Or am I going pot shopping? Here's the picture of it...

As always, thanks in advance for expertise!

Ray · #2 10-19-2019, 08:12 PM

While any plant can be grown that way, I think that brassavolas only do well in S/H culture if the conditions are very hot most of the time.

WaterWitchin · #3 10-19-2019, 09:46 PM

Define "hot" please?

Ray · #4 10-20-2019, 09:13 AM

80's-90's day with lots of sun, never below 70 at night.

Roberta · #5 10-20-2019, 12:20 PM

WaterWitchin, your conditions are a lot different than mine, but here's my experience - plastic basket (fairly tight mesh type), large bark (I'm sure LECA would do as well). Mine does nicely in the greenhouse (winter nights as cool as 60 deg F), light not all that bright, I'd call it "bright shade". So sunny window should do fine in winter but it really does want to dry out out. (Outside once nights warm up in the spring, dappled sun) I grew it outside years ago and it survived but wasn't happy. Once I warmed it up a bit, it grows quite weedily. At this point I suspect that there is no medium left in the basket, the plant doesn't seem to care at all.

Just went out and took a look at it... bark is still in the basket, but most of the roots are outside. So effectively, it's growing like a mounted plant - the bark just provides it a little extra moisture.

Rid · #6 10-20-2019, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

While any plant can be grown that way, I think that brassavolas only do well in S/H culture if the conditions are very hot most of the time.

Why would s/h culture require higher temperatures than bark media? I assume that’s what you mean.
Ridley

Ray · #7 10-20-2019, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rid

Why would s/h culture require higher temperatures than bark media? I assume that’s what you mean.
Ridley

Because the evaporative cooling effect is far more pronounced in S/H than in bark. Hot-growing plants usually don't take well to cold, wet roots.

WaterWitchin · #8 10-20-2019, 04:48 PM

Okay, after much angst, consideration, and having been graciously given a very nice big plant, I finally made a decision. Otherwise I may go stark raving cuckoo. Believe me, some days it's a very short trip.

I took two leads off the plant showing new root growth, and putting them into SH. The main plant is going in a bark mix. I'm gonna put them side by side and grow them in the best space I have available in house. (Basement grow area won't work... too cold.)

I swore I'd never grow another orchid that wouldn't take to SH for me. I swore I'd never try growing anything that couldn't handle winter in my grow area. I also swore a few years back I'd never mount another orchid. I just mounted three Phals, now I'm getting ready to get the bark out. I swear quite often. It's never been very effective, but it sure feels good when I do.

Thanks to all for the input.

I will of course follow through as I succeed or fail to let y'all know how it goes.

SG in CR · #9 10-20-2019, 05:35 PM

Sorry, for what asking what is seemingly obvious. BUt what is SH culture?
My 2 cents on B. nodosa is to give it as much light as you can. First one I got I put in partial shade and for years it grew but barely flowered. After getting another and seeing them growing in the wild, I mounted it in close to full sun and it's doing much better.

Diane56Victor · #10 10-20-2019, 05:41 PM

Good plant to try different growing techniques. I've just received a couple of peices of bulbophyllum and will try one one tree fern and the other on cork.

Love the statue behind the plant, reminded me of The Scream by Edvard Munch.