Forget perfumes and essential oils. The strong, sweet fragrance of the Brassavola, especially at night, with a hint of citrus, will guarantee its grower an instant relaxation therapy.

A 'must have' in every apartment, the attractive Brassavola species will definitely reward you with spikes of dainty looking white flowers that 'dance' in the wind.

The flowers of Brassavola are not only fragrant and elegant looking but also possess an unique shape comprising of a curled, heart shaped lip and long, slender petals, forming an attractive looking flower.

In the wild, the exquisite smell, which can be detected a few metres away, attracts night pollinators for their reproduction. Each stem will produce one erect inflorescence consisting of 1 to 6 flowers. The flowers are long lasting and can last a month or so on a well-established plant.

Brassavola comes from the botanical family Orchidaceae and is a genus of 20 orchid species. Most of their flowers are white with a greenish or yellowish tinge, creating a simple, pure look unlike other orchid hybrids that look like paint splashed on canvass. These tropical growing species originate from the lowlands of Central and South America, thus most of them grow well in the warm tropical climate here in Singapore. These orchids are epiphytes, and can be found growing with their roots attached to trees.

Part of the Cattleya alliance in the orchid family, Brassavola species are distinctly different from its relatives. It is unique as each growth contains a single succulent needle-like leaf that grows on an elongated pseudobulb, creating an overall appearance of a spiky bush with elegant flowers extending out from each growth.

Brassavola species are sympodia orchids that grow new shoots beside existing growths of mature plants, and hence can be easily propagated through division. Most common species have leaves up to 20 - 30cm in length, though rarer species can have leaves that grow up till 90cm.

Cultivation Tips

Light and temperature: Similar to the other genera in the cattleya alliance, Brassavola species require a fair bit of light to reward its grower with constant blooms. Due to the small surface area of the tough succulent leaf, Brassavola can stand full sun without any problems. Otherwise, partial sun should suffice. Morning or evening sun will do best for these plants. Temperature is not a problem for these tough plants as they are warm growing plants.

Water: Brassavola species have a water storage organ called pseudobulb at the base of each leaf which allows it to withstand a few days of drought without any problems. However to maintain a constantly blooming and healthy plant, its best to water them once every 1 to 2 days if exposed to partial sun. In full sun, more frequent watering is required. However, it is essential to ensure that the roots of the plant dry out completely before watering again. As these plants grow attached to trees in the wild, they dislike having waterlogged roots.

Fertiliser: The same rule applies to Brassavola as for most other orchids: Orchids like to be fertilised often in very weak dosages, usually one-eighth the recommended dosage once or twice a week. Use a well balanced liquid fertiliser easily purchased from nurseries. Avoid fertilisers with hormones added unless the plant refuses to bloom.

Potting and Media: Brassavola species require a well aerated media for their roots to grow freely in. Orchid growers usually pot them or mount them.

Potting: Use a plastic netted pot with holes at the side or clay pots for optimal aeration. For the media, use medium sized horticultural grade charcoal to pot the plant. Do not bury all the roots under the media as their roots prefer to be exposed to air.

Mounting: Prepare a clean piece of fern bark or wooden slab and some twist tie. Wet a small amount of dried sphagnum moss and press it on the slab. Place the plant on the slab and tie it with a twist tie. Allow the roots to develop and attach to the slab before placing in full sun.

Propagation: Brassavola species are easily propagated through divisions and a large clump can easily be divided by cutting the short connecting rhizome with a sterile blade. Gently separate the two divisions of the plant and pot/mount them up separately as mentioned above. To initiate rooting, a small amount of sphagnum moss can be placed at the base of the roots. A division as small as 2-3 growths can be grown into a compact new clump once the plant is established.

 

Placing the plant: Brassavola species are usually compact and relatively small compared to other larger orchids. Thus, they make good houseplants as they do not occupy too much space in apartments. Place the plant at the windowsill with good light, preferably with morning and evening sun. A blooming specimen can also be temporarily placed in the hall to enjoy the intoxicating fragrance at night.

Easy orchids for beginners

With the ease of growing Brassavola species, these plants make easy orchids for beginners. With good care, they will definitely reward you with frequent blooms that will brighten your day. There are also many hybrids available commercially from the market that come in different colours. Brassavola species make good crosses with other species and hybrids from the cattleya alliance resulting in striking yellow and red flowers with a distinctive round lip of the Brassavola. With so many hybrids to choose from, growers are spoilt for choice to select those with beautiful lip and colour.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This article is reprinted with permission from Green Culture Singapore (www.greenculturesg.com), an online gardening website set up for plant lovers and by plant lovers.