Brassavola orchids have white or green flowers with narrow petals, especially fragrant, especially at night when fragrant. The white color is indicative of many flowers that depend on moths for pollination. There are at least 20 species in the genus Brassavola, of which the nodule species is one of the easiest to grow, especially for beginners.
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Brassavola orchid care
The Brassavola orchid has long, thin, tubular leaves that can be up to a foot long and sometimes appear unrolled or flattened. Brassavola orchids and their hybrids have much smaller pseudobulbs than other epiphytes, so leaves often emerge directly from the rhizome without the thick pseudobulbs. The typical Brassavola flower has an enlarged, spoon-like lip with petals and sepals that narrow into spear-like petals. Brassavola orchids are white to attract pollinating moths, but the plant has been widely bred to produce flowers in a multitude of colors.
Brassavola is generally a beginner orchid in terms of their growing difficulty. This is mainly because they are more drought tolerant than many species and can handle more neglect than more irritating species. Unfortunately, for such an easygoing orchid with so many amazing attributes, they are misrepresented in the mainstream orchid trade. Find Brassavola orchids at specialized greenhouses, orchid shows or consider buying them online. Brassavola is a fast growing orchid and will quickly begin to divide to increase your collection or make your orchid-loving friends very happy.
The Brassavola orchid is pollinated by moths, so the flowers on the button Brassavola plant are pale white to attract pollinators. These orchids bloom all year round with many flowers and branches in bloom. It is not uncommon to see a Brassavola tree covered with flowers, it looks like a flower ball. Provide adequate light and warmth and you’ll be rewarded with some flowers that bloom year-round.
Light
Brassavola orchids generally prefer fairly strong, bright light, even in direct sunlight. Healthy Brassavola plants have spotted leaves, with reddish markings on the leaves. Dark green leaves often indicate that the plant is not getting enough light, so it is advisable to move the plant to a brighter location. Brassavola prefers light intensity of 2,500 to 4,000 fc. South facing windows are often a perfect home.
Drinking water
The tubular leaves on Brassavola plants are designed to reduce transpiration, making them more drought tolerant than many other orchids. As a result, the plant requires less moisture and less water than many other epiphytes. As with all orchids, the frequency of watering depends on how you grow them. Mounted Brassavolas can be watered several times a week throughout the growing cycle, while potted Brassavolas should be watered thoroughly weekly. Drooping or wrinkling leaves indicate water stress and should be watered as soon as possible.
Soil
Use a fresh, commercial-grade potting mix specifically for orchids with loose, natural materials such as orchid bark, sphagnum moss, lava rock, or tree fern for quick drainage.
Temperature and humidity
Brassavola orchids prefer moderate to warm temperatures and will bloom better towards the warmer end of the range. Nothing smells as great as a Brassavola orchid blooming on a summer night.
Fertilizer
Brassavola orchids produce several waves of leaves year-round, and healthy plants usually flower year-round. Therefore, plants should be fed year-round with a weak fertilizer solution (1/4 of weekly intensity). Many growers do the “fertilizer ball” style from a nylon hose and controlled release pellets, and then tie the pellet ball onto the plant, thus providing a small amount of fertilizer each time the plant is watered. Nylon fertilizer balls will last for several months.
Orchid varieties Brassavola
There are about 17 species of Brassavola, all of which are native to the American tropics. The standard and most popular of these is the push-button Brassavola. Brassavola is related to Cattleya and Rhyncholaelia and has been extensively crossed to produce many new species, including the colorful and popular Brassolaeliocattleya orchid. Some of the eye-catching Brassavola species include:
Brassavola grandiflora, as the name implies, is much larger than Brassavola nodeosa. Its leaves appear spread out and flatter.
Brassavola cucullata has a distinct appearance with its long, slender leaves and is often referred to as the “legged orchid” because of it.
Brassavola cordata is a species of plant native to Jamaica. The flowers are both smaller and more voluminous than the push-button Brassavola flowers.
Gourd and repotted
Brassavola adapts well to mounted culture and will thrive mounted on fern arrays or in mounted baskets. Basket-grown brassavolas can quickly outgrow their original basket and form a specimen plant that completely covers the original container. Don’t bother repotting or re-attaching larger Brassavola plants, but feel free to divide and quickly multiply your plants. If you grow them in containers, use a standard quick-draining orchid mix, such as one that includes expanded clay pellets, charcoal, and pine bark shavings.