Brassavola nodosa in big trouble?

[Carpe Diem]

Two leaves on my nodosa turned black, shriveled and fell off just a minute ago. It started with purple spots, only on the 2 leaves. Thinking it got too much sun, I moved it further back. The spots spread, moving down the leaves until they were a solid purple, then they turned brown, started to dry up, turned black and now they fell off. The rest of the plant looks fine. Does anyone have an idea what went wrong? Is my plant doomed? I appreciate any and all input.

[Gage]

Fungus. Your nodosa can take a lot more light. It can take full sun for much of the day, even midday as long as it isn't all day. And it needs to be bone dry between waterings. Are you growing outdoors or indoors?

[Carpe Diem]

Gage, I'm growing indoors and had it close to a south-east window, that's why I thought it was sunburn. It is mounted on bark and I do let it get dry. Maybe not dry enough? When I water, I soak it for about 10-15 minutes. I don't mist, ever. Should I spray it with fungezide?

[Gage]

I would give it as much light as possible. Like I said, they can take full sun here in South Florida for much of the day. Too little light can also contribute to fungal growth. How often are you watering, and what time of day?

[Carpe Diem]

I water in the morning, when I believe it to be dry, when the Sphag feels crunchy. I've never paid attention to how many days laps before I water again. I watered today and will mark it on the calendar.

[hcastil3]

So what do you guys call direct sunlight... because I live in Utah, and our direct light at this time of the year cause fires....

lots of them..

we have reached 100F + weather 20 times this year all they way up to 118 F...


this is the desert so, would that be full sun? or would that be killing plants sun... I lost many plants to the sun this year, not orchid thankfully..

but yeah.. can anyone answer my question?

[Ferns Daddy]

I keep mine in a east window that gets about 6 hrs of full sun and water it about very 4 day or when it starts to dry out.
hcastil3, I would keep in bright shade and make sure it not doesn't stay dry to long before watering it

[Gage]

Originally Posted by hcastil3

So what do you guys call direct sunlight... because I live in Utah, and our direct light at this time of the year cause fires....

lots of them..

we have reached 100F + weather 20 times this year all they way up to 118 F...


this is the desert so, would that be full sun? or would that be killing plants sun... I lost many plants to the sun this year, not orchid thankfully..

but yeah.. can anyone answer my question?

Full sun = direct sun. You'll have to ask some other desert growers for how to manage humidity in the desert. But if you aren't burning your orchids you're doing somethin right.

[Carpe Diem]

I have my nodosa hanging outside now, in a spot where it gets full sun from mid morning until the sun goes down. The rest of the week is going to be hot, but there will also be thunderstorms. I suppose I will have to bring her back in before a thunderstorm, so she won't get to wet?

[Gage]

Originally Posted by Carpe Diem

I have my nodosa hanging outside now, in a spot where it gets full sun from mid morning until the sun goes down. The rest of the week is going to be hot, but there will also be thunderstorms. I suppose I will have to bring her back in before a thunderstorm, so she won't get to wet?

Whoa there, ease it into higher light a little each day.