Brassavola in the vivarium

[andy83]

Hey everybody,

I was just wondering if anybody here has any of these orchids in their vivariums. I have a B cordata that I'm going to try to get to bloom but I can't find too much info about them on here.

This just got done blooming around a month and a half ago so it will be a while before it is ready to flower again. I'm trying to simulate the conditions that it comes from so wish me luck. I keep it bright, warm and there will be a fan that comes on near it when I'm done installing that.

It's only been in this viv for 2 weeks and the roots are already shooting out new places.

Since I'm still working on upgrading the lighting I'm using some screw in cps at the moment. I move the fixture back and forth each day because it's not long enough.

[Tindomul]

Goodluck! Sounds like an interesting project. If the conditions you are giving is what they like, then you should not have problems.

[Jussi_K]

Hello,

I have three brassavolas in my two vivs. It is considered to suit well in a viv because they like to grow mounted. My Brassavolas are all two young to bloom, but they have grown nicely.
You should just keep it little drier than normal plants maybe by putting it near a fan. You should also keep it in bright light, because it reeaaallly likes it.
I would personally take the spaghum moss a away and keep humidity as high as possible, because not humid air circulation really kills bare rooted plants. maybe something between 70 - 90%. If this is not possible, I would keep the spaghum moss to cover the roots.

[Shadow]

Is air humidity high inside your viv?

[andy83]

The fan for the tank is directly above the orchid. I am going to get much better lighting over the summer. The fan runs during the day with the lights and keeps the humidity down esp where the roots of the Brassavola are.

At night fans come off and everything gets a drop in temps and just a wee bit of condensation. I only plan on lightly misting the Brassavola once a week or so.

Here is a picture that is 10 days older than the last. The growth is pleasing.

[Jussi_K]

exactly how down your humidity is at days. 50% 60% 70%. I see that you have a heavy layer of spaghum there, it covers the roots and maybe saves them near the edges, but kills them in the middle and outside the spaghum if the humidity is at daytime low.... i definitely suggest that you get rid of it... or much less atleast. Still it is a fungus magnet...

[andy83]

The humidity where the roots of the orchid is at 52% during the day and the temp is around 80 during the day.

I will remove the moss. Is there any special way of doing this or anything I should pay attention to after I do it concerning the care? I'm new to orchids and I don't want to do anything stupid.

Thanks,
-Andy

[Ross]

Let me join in here. Watch the roots with the green tips - they are the actively growing roots and you DON'T want to damage the green ends. The rest of the white roots are functioning roots, but not getting any longer and may be a bit brittle until you soak the whole mass in water. So step one - soak in water to get all the roots wet and limber. Step two, remove the moss as best you can - don't be forcefull. Step three remount the plant and you're good to go. Hope this helps.

[andy83]

Thank you very much for the tips on that. I will probably remove the moss later tonight and take pictures.

[andy83]

I took out all of the moss. I placed it in good water for about 40min and then I just started plucking it out here and there. I got most of what I could.

You can really tell what the moss does to the roots. The middle section just rots away.





So, my stats for this orchid is: 85% humidity at night, 73 degrees at night, 44% humidity during the day, 86 degrees during the day. Bright light(not bright enough yet).