B nodosa ‘mas major’ buds

[cnycharles]

Last year about this time I went to littlebrook orchids in Lancaster pa after work. I had the bug to find some orchids that would flower easily and wanted to pick up one of the phal lindenii he had. He had in the front peak of one of his greenhouses, a huge b nodosa in full flower! I found some plants for sale with buds coming and had a few flowers last year. This year the spikes started maybe a month ago, and are growing quickly now. The first won’t quite be open for Christmas, but definitely for the new year

The plant has basically doubled in size; had four or so growths before and has three more. I was actually kind of nervous that the plant would grow so quickly that I wouldn’t be able to keep it potted before it outgrew it! The original pot has been sitting in a quart yogurt container that I keep a small amount of water in and let it dry, then water again. I’d noticed that nodosa though liking airy roots didn’t really like being dry dry, and I’ve tried to keep just a little water in the bottom of the pot. I did spritz the roots a while before with quantum and more recently with inocucor, but actually not much fertilizer. It has some morning sun and the timed light

 

[TyroneGenade]

Merry Christmas!

Can you please show us more of the plant and how it is potted. I have also taken to baskets suspended in yoghurt tubs with some water to keep the humidity up around the wandering roots of several orchids.

 

[cnycharles]

Merry Christmas!

here’s the whole plant set in the tub, and plant in front for scale
It’s good that you asked; I didn’t realize how much water was inside… just being wet and in the tub is enough for awhile. You can see from the color that with the combo of morning sun when the sun does shine, and the overhead light, it’s maxed on light

 

[TyroneGenade]

Thanks Charles, what is the substrate? Bark or stone?

 

[cnycharles]

It has the nursery media still, and looks to be either seedling size pine bark or bark and charcoal

 

[NYEric]

Good luck. Deep Cut and SEPOS shows were announced. See you at either?

 

[cnycharles]

It’s possible, though nearby the numbers of people and their relatives with virus are jumping, so hopefully things will mellow before then

 

[TyroneGenade]

I'm surprised the pine bark mix is tolerating the water. I put a rock or chunk of Styrofoam in the bottom of the yoghurt tub to keep the pot above water while the roots wander about.

 

[GuRu]

.....a huge b nodosa in full flower!

Charles, are you sure this is B. nodosa ?
This is a nice and obviously vigorous plant......but I have doubts it to be Brassavola nodosa ? In my eyes the broad leaves and the loose growth don't really fit to B. nodosa which has more or less terete leaves and an compact growth. Also the reddish markings on the leaves don't fit to B. nodosa......I tend it to be a hybrid. At any rate flowers will tell the truth. So let's wait few more days. Here is a link to a foto of Brassavola nodosa like I know it.

 

[cnycharles]

I'm surprised the pine bark mix is tolerating the water. I put a rock or chunk of Styrofoam in the bottom of the yoghurt tub to keep the pot above water while the roots wander about.

Truth be told, I’ve been keeping a little more water in it recently, and more often than not it gets fairly dry between waterings. I decided to keep more moisture once I saw possible flower spikes. Last year when I brought home, some buds fell off when it got dry (it was in low spike when I bought it) I think having the tub around the roots when I’ve more recently let it be drier, kept humidity higher and prevented root damage. It’s leaving the original pot quickly, so doing more like you have adapted would likely be a good target

 

[cnycharles]

Charles, are you sure this is B. nodosa ?
This is a nice and obviously vigorous plant......but I have doubts it to be Brassavola nodosa ? In my eyes the broad leaves and the loose growth don't really fit to B. nodosa which has more or less terete leaves and an compact growth. Also the reddish markings on the leaves don't fit to B. nodosa......I tend it to be a hybrid. At any rate flowers will tell the truth. So let's wait few more days. Here is a link to foto of Brassavola nodosa like I know it.

hello Rudolph,
Yes, the plant is very different. I have my uncertainties about what exactly it is. My previous experience has been with tiny and medium length pencil leaved nodosa. I bought the plant a year ago, here’s the link to my posting here of the first flower opening

https://www.slippertalk.com/threads/brassavola-nodosa-‘mas-mejor’-am-aos-bud.50862/
The flowers look very much like nodosa/small, and it’s been awarded and crossed with other nodosa cultivars. I can find pictures of it by name online, I don’t know anything about it’s background. I would be happy to know more about it and exactly what it is

 

[cnycharles]

Looking around online, though this is awarded as nodosa, perhaps it is what sometimes is called brassavola grandiflora, or nodosa var grandiflora. These may be synonyms to nodosa, but it definitely is different than nodosa

 

[cnycharles]

you’ve heard of Christmas cactus, well this is going to be the New Years orchid! It’s peeking, and will open tomorrow on New Year’s Day
Cheers everyone