Brassavola Nodosa
 

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...s/RIMG0010.jpg

This is my first orchid here in Nicaragua. It's bloomed only a few weeks after purchase. I've hung it in the centre of a Ficus tree to protect it from the full sun here. I'm not sure whether this would have been a one spaces orchid or a cloud forest shaded orchid. I believe it is an Brassavola Nodosa based on what I've seen in Patrick Werners' book An Introduction To Nicaraguan Orchids. I'd like to propagate this but, I'm sure that information is elsewhere on this forum.

Looks like B. nodosa, or one of it's hybrids, to me. They like pretty strong light.

Thanks Ross, I'll move it to a brighter location. What about watering - mositure?

They like to be watered or soaked, but like to dry out between waterings. I am sure your natural humidity will be fine. Be sure to fertilize during the growing periods. Be sure to avoid full sun during mid day in your climate. I would say early morning sun and late afternoon sun but sort-of shady mid day would be best.

Re fertilizer
 

This orchid was bought growing in burlap attached to a rotted piece of 2 x 2. I'm guessing a water soluble fertilizer, but of what constituent?

Check this web site Fertilizer PPM Calculator Scroll way down near the bottom and plug in the percent nitrogen for the fertilizer you are planning to use (you have purchased some fertilizer, right?) You want 125ppm (just type in 125) as a target for every time fertilizing (what I mean is, every time you water, dunk, your plant in solution, you will be fertilizing + watering). So 125 goes in the right-hand box. The left-hand box should contain the Nitrogen percent from the label of your fertilizer so 20-20-20 would be .62 milliliters fertilizer per liter of water. Does this help?

I'm just south in Panama' and find nodosas all along the Caribbean coast. They seem to like fair shade to fairly strong sunlight and are salt tolerant, some growing where salt spray often reaches them. They grow well on cork or hardwood that allows regular watering but dry out between. Not picky about fertilizer. Do well with none here.

That page will be a terrific bookmark. Thanks

Good point! Who fertilizes these guys in nature? :hmm I don't think the salt does them any good, just that they tolerate it. I suspect the sea breezes at night and fog wash the salt away. I wouldn't add salt to the diet, but we are in agreement about drying and the light? :biggrin:

I'll play it by ear then. Thanks for the information. I bought it from a small grower in Catarina, about 300m above sea level I think. He had it in a garden in full sun. I'll watch and see. I was pleased it bloomed so quick (2 weeks after purchase) Oh, when the bloom dies does it atrophy or should I clip it off. Is there seed potential if it were to become pollinated?

Seed will be determined by pollinators. If it's outside, there's a good chance. As for atrophy, it will just shrivel and fall off. If it's been pollinated that may occur quickly and leave a nice fat seed area behind. It'll be obvious.

Hi Ross, I can confirm from my own experience with this species in venezuela, that they do not seem to be very sensible to salt... I have seen them growing on the coast on mangroves and on rocks on the direct sun and being regularly watered by the caribbean waves... I can put my hand on fire for a single plant (several years old!) growing on a mangrove next to the house of a friend of mine, which even had salt cristal on its leaves and was producing abundant flowers every year!
I will contact my friend, as he possibly can have pictures of this plant, and if so, I will post them here...

For me this species loves so much sun, that I am not sure if I would be able to provide it right conditions growing in-house in Europe... Some day I will loose my fear and give it a try ;)

Ramon, I find the same thing. I have several seedlings and a couple blooming size. I really can't provide enough light (30,000 to 40,000 lux) to bloom them properly, but I keep hoping. But I do grow them well (lots of new healthy growth). This summer they go outside into full sun! :biggrin:

I didn't mean to sound like you should add salt, but they are very tolerant of a large range of conditions. Cstm. virdiflavum and some Galeandras, enc. and epis grow as close (plus nemedias - which are all over the place here.)

I've got a B. nodosa hybrid in bloom right now with a few seed pods developing. I've got it inside right now, so I've had to pollinate it myself. Leave the flowers on. Once pollinated, they will kind of pucker up and the the ovary will begin to swell. The flower will not usually drop.

On the other hand, if they go unpollinated, the whole thing will dry up and drop off. Just pick them up and toss them. I'll try to take some photos tonight showing both maturing capsules and unpollinated flowers.

Peace, - J

Check my gallery for the pics. Wait, I'll try the linked thumbnail image thing...
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...m/100_1486.JPG
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...m/100_1490.JPG

just wondering . . .
 

Hi there, what am I looking at in that second photo, a seed pod or a new orchid forming?

It's a seed pod. It was the the little stem part of the flower that attaches to the spike. Really it's a swollen ovary or a fruit.

Do you have to start the seeds in some sort of gel or petri dish?

Yes. It will be my first try.

what type of medium?
 

what type of medium? I wish you great success. I'd like to do the same.

I'm starting with a standard "germination media". I think it's called P669. I'll be doing some side by side experiments with different media, but the standard is what I will expect the best results from.

Check out Phytotech's website or the 'technical data' section of the Orchid Seedbank Project website.