Brassavola nodosa

Brassavola nodosa et or var. grandiflora
(Lady of the Night)
Native to Honduras, this rather small, often pendulous plant is characterised by lanceolate, cylindrical, canaliculate leaves less than 10 to 15 cm long. It produces numerous pale green and white flowers, very fragrant at dusk. The flowers bloom from spring to autumn.

Light: It likes a lot of light, such as a veiled south-western exposure. It can also flower and grow well under grow lights.

Watering: It requires a good watering (water at room temperature) during the vegetation period. From spring onwards, give it a generous watering twice a week: a 15 minute bath (water reaching 3/4 of the pot) and a normal watering for the other. In winter, reduce the watering to once a week.

Fertilization: Beginning in the spring when the new shoots appear until the autumn. Once every two weeks with a 25-10-10 or 20-20-20 orchid fertiliser diluted by half and once a month with 15-30-15 flowering fertiliser, making sure that the fertiliser is always followed by a generous watering without any fertiliser.

Temperature: Temperate-warm, i.e. 21 to 38 degrees Celsius during the day in summer and 18 to 31 degrees Celsius in winter. Make sure they vary a few degrees lower at night (approx. 5oC). Can also spend the summer outdoors in the shade of the midday sun. From the beginning of June to the end of August or when night temperatures approach 15oC and above. In this case, make sure that the
plant does not suffer from a lack of water. At the time of re-entry, treat the plant with an insecticide (malathion) in a 15 minute bath and spray the foliage, top and bottom. Repeat the application once with the same solution, leaving 2 weeks between applications in the spring and 3 weeks in a row in the autumn, bringing the plant in on the third week.

Re-potting: Every 2 years or when the substrate has deteriorated. Turn the pot upside down while holding the plant, the shavings that are not held by roots will fall out easily. Take the opportunity to remove old, leafless pseudobulbs and dead roots with a good pair of pruning shears that have been disinfected with a flame or rubbing alcohol. Have the compost moistened 24 hours before repotting. Divide by taking at least 7 or 8 pseudo bulbs.