Brassavola question

[grandmapenguin]

I have a question about a Brassavola I am growing. About a year ago it bloomed, but now is doing nothing and I don't really like the color tinge on the
leaves. At Orchid Society I asked but didn't have any photos to show. The comments were at least you got yours to bloom,seems the growers present haven't had much bloom success. First of all, can anyone tell me if the color is normal or is there something wrong. I'll cover the not blooming later.
Appreciate any help you may give me.
Terry

[FLBob]

The dark green and reddish tints are typical of Brassavola nadosa leafs.
B. nadosa blooms for me late summer through late Dec. and I grow them in nearly full south Florida sun.

[RebelCowgirl]

B. nodosa requires alot of light to bloom. Have you had a look at its roots? On mine the roots come out of the top of the medium and grow right over the side of the basket. The color looks ok but there a few leaves that look a little sickly.

[koshki]

How do they feel? Are they nice a firm, or are the a bit mushy? I think I gave mine a bit too much sun this past summer, and a couple leaves got scorched (and then mushy), but on most of them the purple faded back to green when I dialed back the light a bit. From what I've heard, the perfect amount of light is when they are just turning a bit purple.

Oh, and mine is blooming quite well right now!

[grandmapenguin]

Thank you all for your help. The leaves are not mushy but I was confused by the color.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by koshki

From what I've heard, the perfect amount of light is when they are just turning a bit purple.

This is true under natural light however, I found a number of my Brassavola and B hybrid leaves got exceptionally purple under the "red" lights the last 2yrs. Something about the red HO lights really brings out the purple in some plants w/out it being too much light. I hope that made sense.

When I'd put them outside for the Summer (higher fcs) the purple would tone down.

I switched over to all "blue" lights this year and I'm not seeing nearly the purple I saw in previous years.

[Ray]

The coloration in those photos does NOT look like a typical "sun tan" to me. it tends to be directional - toward the light source - and not uniform like that.

I think you're dealing with a nutritional issue.

[katrina]

Good point Ray!! I hadn't thought of that.

Also...looking at the pics again...the mix seems too small and moist and the pot too large for a small/bark mix. B nodosa really, REALLY needs to dry between waterings.

And, your nodosa appears to be a bit too deep. You want the rhizome to skim over the top of the medium.

[grandmapenguin]

Thank you. Will repot and bring it up higher in the media. Will reduce the watering also. Thank you for all your help.
Terry

[Leafmite]

These do really great mounted! I had one potted and it is just (hopefully) recovering from a type of rot while the one I bought mounted is thriving and budded up to bloom. I mounted the (hopefully) unaffected pieces of formally potted one. I think my house is just too cool and humid during the gloomy winters to grow this one in a pot.
Leafmite

[lmartiny]

Mine had never rebloomed for me and I put it in a sunnier spot outside (per Geeks suggestion) and the leaves turned a more purple shade. They are now both in spike. One is potted in bark mix and the other is mounted.