Brassavola nodosa 'Mini Mouse' growths stunted

[bethmarie]

This one has great roots, but the last 4-5 growths are about 1/3 the height of the ones it had before I got it last winter. I'm fertilizing about 30ppm nitrogen at every watering; it's pigmented from plenty of light. Any nodosa experts got advice for me?

[RandomGemini]

Just giving this a bump because I am curious. I am growing this species also, though I believe mine is a few years away from blooming size... I have 2 divisions of it doing quite well. I'm also glad to see that the amount of pigment you have is normal, I was concerned might be getting a bit too much light and was considering moving it. Now I won't.

Hope you get some answers!

[RJSquirrel]

the plant looks to be in perfectly fine shape. Its hard to say as to why the condition you describe would alarm you in any way. The same growing factors given a plant or plants over a period of time can have dramatic differences in the results.

Now....it is a vector that in gauging a plants health, that the new matured growths should be equal to or larger than the last one. If you had multiple growths the food and energy has been divided also it may take a little longer for them to catch up.

I make all this up as I am typing

[katrina]

More light can also sometimes result in shorter growths/leaves. If the other person was giving it less light that what you've been growing it under then the plant might be responding to the higher (better) light w/shorter leaves. It's not a bad thing and the plant looks great so I wouldn't worry about it.

[bethmarie]

I was going on the assumption that the new growths should be roughly equal to the older ones, hence my wondering. The plant was not pigmented when I got it, so I expect it is getting more light now.
Thanks for your replies, made up or not

[PaphMadMan]

The new growths should be roughly equal to the old ones IF they are grown under the same conditions. In this case I see smaller growths on the part of the plant that is out flapping in the open air with no support. Seems like a logical adaptation to me - keep the growths as small and light weight as possible until the plant reaches another secure attachment point.