Despite their capricious nature, orchids are popular with amateur growers. After all, these exotic plants retain their decorative effect all year round. There are many varieties of such cultures, but the brassia orchid occupies a special place among them. This attractive tropical beauty has an unusual bud shape and a relatively unpretentious nature.
Description
The brassia orchid is a bright representative of the orchid family. In its natural environment, this flowering perennial plant is found in the rainforests of South and North America.
A distinctive feature of this species is the unusual shape of the buds, due to which the culture is also called the "spider orchid". Peduncles are painted yellow in various shades. As a rule, brown blotches are present on the petals. The elongated sepals reach 15 cm in length. Each inflorescence contains from 6 to 15 buds.
The plant has thick pseudobulbs, and most often theyhiding under the leaves. The leaf plates are fan-shaped and have a belt-lanceolate shape.
Best species and varieties
The description of the brassia orchid would be incomplete without mentioning the varieties of the tropical beauty. Especially popular with flower growers:
- Warty. The most unpretentious variety, characterized by long flowering. Plant height - 50 cm. The buds are painted in pale yellow-green tones. Together with narrow leaves, they create an attractive composition.
- Spotted. This variety has large, bright yellow buds with purple splashes. They give off a pleasant vanilla scent.
- Tailed. This variety is distinguished by curved, pale yellow flowers. The buds emit a more pronounced fragrance than other species.
- Royal. A hybrid variety with an unusual aroma. The orchid is valued for its long flowering with numerous buds.
- Summer dream. Variety with large star-shaped inflorescences resembling octopuses. The petals are yellow with bright brown blotches.
Each of these varieties will decorate your collection. But for this you need to create comfortable conditions for the Brassia orchid.
Cultivation
The brassia orchid, the photo of which is presented in the article, belongs to capricious cultures. And to grow it at home, you will have to make a lot of effort. This will help such agrotechnicalEvents:
- regular but moderate watering;
- periodic feeding;
- transplant;
- disease and pest prevention.
When caring for the brassia orchid, it is also important to maintain a certain temperature and humidity near the flower. You will learn more about these growing rules in the next part of the article.
Temperature
Brassia orchid is a thermophilic plant. It is advisable to maintain a temperature of + 20 … + 25 ° C for it. And it is important that the exotic beauty “sleep” in cool conditions from +16…+18 °C. If the difference between day and night temperatures is not 4 ° C, then the orchid will not release flower stalks.
It is equally important to place the flower in a cool room when new bulbs begin to mature. At this time, it is desirable to keep the plant at +17…+18 °C.
From the beginning of May to the end of September, take an exotic beauty to the balcony or garden. Here she will receive maximum fresh air and light. In addition, this way you will ensure a natural temperature difference between night and day.
Lighting
Brassia Orchid prefers bright but diffused light. It is advisable to place a flower pot near the western or eastern windows. If you grow a tropical beauty on a southern windowsill, then be sure to darken it at noon. To do this, hang tulle or gauze over the pot.
If there is free space in the apartment only near the north window, then be sure to arrange an orchidadditional illumination with a phytolamp. And keep in mind that daylight hours for culture should last 10 hours.
In winter, the plant often suffers from a lack of light, even on the southern and eastern windowsills. Therefore, it is advisable to highlight the culture on cloudy days with a phytolamp.
Irrigation
Watering the brassia orchid must be approached with special responsibility, because the capricious beauty does not tolerate both prolonged drought and excess moisture. Moisten the soil as soon as it is completely dry. But before that, see if the plant has produced new bulbs. If they are formed, then do not water the plant for 5-7 days. So, you will provoke the development of new flower buds.
For watering brassia orchids, use melt or rain water. If this is not possible, then filter and defend ordinary tap water. Before watering, warm it up a little so that the water temperature is 2-3 ° higher than in the room.
It is better to moisten an orchid of this species by immersion. To do this, put the pot in a bowl of water for 15-20 minutes. After that, return the container to the tray, and after 5-10 minutes, drain the excess liquid. If you notice wrinkles on the bulbs, then you have flooded the flower. To correct the situation, refrain from watering for 5-7 days.
Humidity
Like most tropical plants, the brassia orchid loves high humidity. It is desirable to maintain this indicator within 60%. To do this, install a special humidifier near the pot. If this is not possible, then a pallet with wet moss will help orpebbles. Place a pot on it so that the water does not reach the drainage holes.
In addition, do not forget to spray the foliage of your pet daily with warm settled water. In the summer, it is desirable to hold this event several times a day. Give the flower a warm shower once a week. Be sure to cover the batteries with damp towels during the winter.
Remember: dry air shrinks young leaves quickly. And they are covered with a drying film, which then prevents them from straightening. To prevent this situation, keep the humidity in the room comfortable for the orchid.
Feeding
From the beginning of spring to the end of summer, fertilize the brassia orchid once a month with nitrogen-containing preparations. This will enhance the growth and duration of flowering. Apply potassium-phosphorus preparations in the fall. In winter, the flower has a dormant period, so at this time it does not need top dressing.
For a tropical beauty, choose liquid fertilizers that have a special mark "For orchids". Apply top dressing, combining them with watering. So, you will evenly distribute fertilizers. And do not exceed the dosage of drugs, otherwise you will ruin the flower.
Transfer
With proper care at home, the brassia orchid grows quickly, and it becomes cramped in an old pot. Therefore, a transplant is indispensable. You can understand that it is time to change the flower pot by the roots protruding from the drainage holes. And also soil compaction serves as a signal for transplantation, and stronglyovergrown bulbs that no longer fit the old container.
Start the event in the spring. At this time, the orchid more easily tolerates the stress of the procedure, and then practically does not get sick. Choose glass or plastic pots for your pet. Ceramic containers are also suitable, but only without a glazed surface. And you can also use planters or hanging baskets.
For planting a brassia orchid, use a special soil designed for this species. To make your own substrate, mix equal parts charcoal, sphagnum moss, acid peat moss, pine bark pieces, and coconut chips. Be sure to leave the mixture on the steam bath for 15-20 minutes to sanitize the substrate.
How to transplant brassia:
- Lay a 3 cm layer of drainage on the bottom of the new pot. To do this, use brick chips, expanded clay or pebbles.
- Take the orchid out of the old container. If she has he althy roots, then move the culture to a new pot along with an earthy clod. If there are damaged shoots, then put the plant in a bowl of water to wash out the old soil. Then remove the damaged roots with sharp, disinfected scissors and sprinkle the cuts with activated or charcoal.
- Put the orchid in a pot, and set the flower close to the wall so that the new bulbs have enough room to grow.
- Fill the voids with soil. Please note that you need to fill the pot with the substrate no more than 75% of the volume. After all, when new bulbs appear, you will need to add soil.
- Place the pot in a container of water to water for 3 minutes.
After transplanting, keep the flower for 2-3 days in a shady place. Water the orchid for the first time, on the third day after the event. Then return the pet to its usual place.
Diseases and pests
Often, the brassia orchid is attacked by a spider mite. This pest looks like red-brown dots that appear on the leaves and stems of the crop. As a rule, the parasite starts when planting in non-disinfected soil. To avoid this, be sure to disinfect the substrate. If the tick is already wound up, then rinse the flower under a warm shower. And treat the crop with insecticides such as Aktary or Actellik.
With excessive watering and growing in cool conditions, the orchid gets sick with root rot. To cure the disease, transplant the flower into new soil and remove any rotten roots.
But it's better to prevent disease and provide proper care for the brassia orchid at home. And then there will be no problems with the capricious tropical beauty. And she will thank the rapid growth and numerous buds.
