Brassia Eternal Tow, My First Bloom!

[Lagoon]

Nice one, Helen - Bravo

[TikiGeorge]

Sweet!

[Helen]

Thanks to everyone for your kind feedback. It feels good to finally have 3 orchids in bloom after 18 months of hard work. It's so nice to share with people who truly understand what we have to go thru! It's finally paying off!
I couldn't have done it without all of you here at the forum answering all of my newbie questions!
THANK YOU ALL
Helen

[snow]

love you.re brassia helen. good growing gal.

[quiltergal]

Right on Helen! It's beautiful! I'll echo your sentiments on the value of finding OB! My ability to successfully rebloom plants has been significant since coming here.

I bought this same plant for my son Sept. 07 while in Hawaii. Had it shipped home. I don't think his has bloomed yet. In fact I'm not sure he knows exactly where it is in his house. I may have to adopt the poor thing!

[gmdiaz]

Way to GO, Helen!!!!!

It's a beauty!

[Grandma M]

It's very pretty. You are a better grower than I am. My Grand-daughter gave me one.....I promptly killed it. Not cool enough where I had it. Marilyn

[Sandy4453]

Not only are those flowers exceptional but the condition of the leaves on this plant, are too! It appears that you've given it outstanding care.

If you wouldn't mind, would you tell what you're growing this in, natural or artificial lights and watering habits? I've got a similar plant that's been struggling and I can't seem to figure out the right combination.

She's a beauty!

[Helen]

Originally Posted by SRF

Not only are those flowers exceptional but the condition of the leaves on this plant, are too! It appears that you've given it outstanding care.

If you wouldn't mind, would you tell what you're growing this in, natural or artificial lights and watering habits? I've got a similar plant that's been struggling and I can't seem to figure out the right combination.

She's a beauty!

Thanks Sandy,
I'm growing it in small bark mix with sphagnum moss in a small 3" pot (just a month ago I was worried that it drastically needed repotting, then I saw the spike and left it alone). I'm including the picture of the roots. More roots than mix Perhaps they like a tight pot?
I have it in an east window (natural light), and I supplement with just a flourescent lamp after supper until approx. 11pm at night. I do this because I have a large tree in the east window so there is some shading during the day. I water 2-3 times a week. At first I was watering once a wk, but then the leaves started to pleat before the pseudobulb completed its growth, so I water more often now and it did the trick. I fertilize lightly every 3rd watering. I've heard they should not dry out severely between waterings.
I hope this helps! Keep me posted on how it's growing. How old is your Brassia? Has it ever bloomed that you know of?
Helen

[Sandy4453]

Helen,

Thanks so much for all this info. Yes, you've helped tremendously! . Those roots are beautiful!!!

Actually, I've got 2 somewhat similar and both have had setbacks.

One is a Bllra. Patricia McCully 'Pacific Matriarch' (first pic). I repotted it into Hydroton last summer. Thought because my Catts do so well in it that this one would too. No dice. It bloomed last year, not this year. I just did a re-pot and it's back in bark. Have only been watering once a week, average.

The other is a Miltassia Shelob (second pic) that, for the life of me, can't figure out why so many leaves have turned yellow. It flowered again, this season. This grew a massive amount of roots and also uncovered, thousands of these teeny little white bugs. I cleaned it up, removed old bulbs and repotted back into bark. Also, watering about once a week.

I might try watering more often like you do, until the weather starts dramatically changing (around December, here) and see if this helps. I've been doing fertilizers all year and will probably continue on this course.

I'll be one happy camper if I can get the results you've gotten! Thanks again for all you've passed along. Much appreciated, Helen.