Brassia Orchids (Spider Orchids) Indoor Care, Propagation and Common Problems
Some links in this post may be affiliate links
Brassia Orchids (Spider Orchids) grows best in bright indirect, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, loose, orchids soil coupled with regular monthly in the growing season.
Spider Orchids are popular orchids on account of their spectacular, delicately fragrant and long-lasting blooms.
Brassia Orchids are notable for their characteristic long and spreading tepals, which lend them the common name 'Spider Orchid'. The reason why they look like spiders is that they attract female spider wasps for pollination.
Spider Orchids have large elliptic-oblong pseudobulbs with one or two leaves, a lateral unbranched numerously-flowered long-lasting flower-spike.
The Genus name 'Brassia' came from William Brass, a British botanist and illustrator who collected plants in Africa under the supervision of Sir Joseph Banks, an English naturalist, botanist and patron of natural sciences. The genus name is abbreviated as Brs in horticultural journals.
Brassia Orchids grow best when hanging or mounted on a vertical surface to allow the roots free air circulation.
Botanical name: Brassia
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Cymbidieae
Subtribe: Oncidiinae
Common name: Spider Orchid
Origin
Brassia Orchids are native to the rain forests of Mexico, Central America, West Indies and northern South America where they grow as epiphytes on tree canopies.
Flower
The flowers in Brassia Orchids are delicately fragrant and long-lasting and can be spotted yellow, cream, brownish or green.
Is Brassia Orchid toxic?
Spider Orchids are non-toxic to both humans and pets. They are safe to grow in the home.
Where to Buy
If you would like to add this spectacular orchid to your collection, Brassia Orchids are available online on Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Brassia Orchids Care Indoors
Brassia Orchids (Spider Orchids) blossom in bright indirect light (filterd light), average warmth of 16-290C, humidity of 60-70% and moderately moist, rich, loose, orchid's potting mix coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Spider Orchids need regular pruning to keep them neat and discourage pest and disease infestation. Repotting is need when growth begins to suffer or the medium becomes completely broken down. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Watering
Water Brassia Orchid thoroughly during the growing season and allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings. Decrease watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time but do not let the soil dry out completely.
Use tepid, chlorine-free water as the orchids are sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals dissolved in water. Avoid wetting the foliage as it can lead to fungal diseases.
Spider Orchids unlike Phalaenopsis (Moth) Orchids are more tolerant of dry soil conditions due to the presence of pseudobulbs and their thick leaves therefore, avoid overwatering.
Light Requirements
Spider Orchid grows best in bright indirect light. Keep it away from direct sunshine to avoid sun scorch on the leaves.
A Brassia Orchid that is receiving the correct light has light-green leaves. Too little light will result in dark-green leaves while too much light will cause the leaves to be more yellowish than green.
Spider Orchid can also be grown under grow lights where the natural lighting is not adequate. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the orchid receives adequate light on all sides for even growth.
Temperature and Humidity
The best temperatures for Brassia Orchid are between 16-290C. The warmer days and cooler night temperatures with a difference of 10-150C are ideal for this orchid. The cool nights are essential to trigger flowering.
Make sure that there is good air circulation as the orchid cannot tolerate hot and stuffy conditions. Keep the orchid away from drafts to avoid sudden changes in temperature as they can cause reduced growth and blooming.
Spider Orchid requires a humidity of 60-70% to thrive. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to elevate humidity. Do not mist the leaves as it can lead to fungal diseases. Check out these techniques on how to raise increase humidity for houseplants.
Once in a while clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and also discourage pest and disease infestations.
Potting Medium
The best potting medium for Brassia Orchid should be rich in organic matter, loose, free-draining bark soil to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Most orchid potting mixes are ideal for this orchid.
Fertilizer
Feed Brassia Orchid every 4 weeks during the growing season with an orchid's fertilizer to promote a lush growth. Ensure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Withhold feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Do not feed an orchid that is in flower as it may shorten the flowering period.
It is better to err on the side of underfeeding than overfeeding a Spider Orchid as overfeeding may result in loss of roots thus death of the orchid. Overfeeding can also lead to vegetative growth instead of flower production.
Repotting
Repot Brassia Orchid when the orchid has outgrown its pot and the new growth reaches out over the edge of the pot or when the soil has broken down completely.
Basically repotting a Spider Orchid every 2-3 years should be adequate. Repot only when new growth begins, shortly after blooming is over.
Use a pot with proper drainage holes or slits as the roots need good air circulation. The pot should be large enough to accomodate the roots of the orchid. Check out these ceramic orchid pots with a free slotted orchid pot liner on Amazon.
Brassia Orchids grow best when hanging or mounted on a vertical surface to allow the roots free air circulation. If growing the orchid in a hanging basket, replace the potting medium regularly.
Use a loose, free-draining bark soil as the roots require good air circulation otherwise they begin to die. While repotting, shake off excess soil and trim off any dried and shrivelled pseudobulbs.
Pruning
Pruning Brassia Orchid is easy. Remove dead and diseased leaves to keep the orchid neat as well as minimize pest and disease infestations. When flowering is over, cut the flower stalk 1 inch above the 3rd node from the bottom to encourage more flower production.
Propagation
Brassia Orchids (Spider Orchids) can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season once flowering is over from the rhizome.
How to propagate Brassia Orchid from the rhizome
Gently split the Brassia Orchid rhizome into sections while ensuring there are at least 3 shoots on each section.
Seperate the roots attached to each division from the mother root-ball.
Remove the old potting soil attached to the section roots and place each section in the center of the pot.
Bury the roots of the section in the soil while ensuring that the bottom of the pseudobulb is level with the top of the soil.
The best pot for the section should be about 1-2 in. larger than the pseudobulb.
Ensure the pot has enough drainage holes and slits to prevent root-rot in the section.
Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place until the orchid sections have established their own roots.
Water the new Spider Orchids lightly to enhance root development. Stake each newly repotted plant.
Brassia Orchid Problems and Solutions
Brassia Orchid (Spider Orchid) common growing problems include black leaf tips and edges, leaf spots, yellow leaves, drooping leaves, lack of blooms, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Mold on the leaves
Mold on the leaves in the Spider Orchid is an indication of powdery mildew which is promoted by over damp conditions, low temperatures and poor air circulation.
Misting the leaves may lead to mildew growth if the water does not evaporate quickly. Ensure that there is good air circulation and stop misting the orchid. Cut off the diseased leaves. Isolate the affected plant and treat it for the disease.
No blooms
One possible reason why Brassia Orchid is not blooming is too little light as it blooms in bright indirect light (dappled light). Move the orchid to a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright indirect light away from direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Overfeeding the Spider Orchid can result in vegetative growth at the expense of flowers production. Feed it once monthly with an orchid's fertilizer as per the manufacturer's instructions.
Dark-green leaves
Dark green leaves in Brassia Orchid indicate that the orchid is not getting enough light. The leaves of a Spider Orchid that is receiving the correct light should be light green. Position the orchid in a brighter spot where it can receive bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate.
Yellowish leaves
Yellowish leaves in Brassia Orchid indicate that the orchid is getting too much light. The leaves of a Spider Orchid that is receiving the correct light should be light green. Move the orchid to a shadier spot where it will receive bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight.
Limpy and droopy leaves
Limpy and droopy leaves in Brassia Orchid are caused by underwatering. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Water the orchid thoroughly, maintain the soil moderately moist and allow only the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings.
Black and dying leaf tips
The cause of black and dying leaf tips in Brassia Orchid is the presence of chemicals like chlorine and flourides in the water or accumulation of salts in the soil.
Use chlorine-free water only to water the Spider Orchid and flush out accumulated salts from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil for about 10 minutes until it comes out through the drainage holes.
Brown hard and dry leaf spots
Exposure of Brassia Orchid to direct sunshine will result in scorch marks which are brown hard and dry spots on the leaves. Place the orchid to a shadier spot or protect it from direct sunshine to prevent sunburn.
Brown soft leaf spots
Brown soft leaf spots in Brassia Orchid are an indication of a fungal disease. Remove the affected leaves immediately to prevent further spread.
You liked it? Share on social media.
Related Content
Amazon Associates Disclosure
Homeplantsguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.