Brassavola – orchid

Description

Brassavola – There are about 20 species of evergreen, upright or horizontal to pendent, rocky dwelling, epiphytic or lithophytic orchids, in this genus. They occur from sea level to 6,000′ feet high in Central and South America. They have woody, creeping rhizomes that produce stem, narrowly cylindrical pseudobulbs, each with one cylindrical, apical leaf. Long lasting, night scented, white, ivory-white, or green flowers, to 6″ across, are carried singly or in short, often pendent racemes of up to 7 blooms from the base of the leaf, usually in summer. Cool to intermediate growing orchids (see chart below). Grow in epiphytic orchid potting mix in a slatted basket, or epiphytically on bark slab. Provide humid, moist, unshaded conditions all year. In summer, water freely, applying dilute fertilizer at every third watering, and mist twice daily, keep dry in winter. Divide when plant out grows pot. Prone to a large number of fungal spots, virus diseases, whiteflies, mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites.