Orchid Brassia x bratonia 'Toscane' Yellow-Brown

Spider orchids come to you in a nursery pot. Stand the plant in a light spot out of full sun, in your living room. Ideal temperature for a Brassia is between 18 and 22° C.

Keep the roots of your spider orchid moist - preferably with lukewarm (rain) water, or otherwise lime free. Will require lots of watering in the summer. A nice long soak in lukewarm (rain) water will be appreciated and is actually preferred. Do allow the water to drain off though. Add plant food to the water monthly. Use food for flowering plants, or tomatoes - one with a high potassium content. Keep the ambient humidity high. Snip off overblown flower stems at the base. Each pseudo tuber will flower but once only and will then reproduce a new one, once only. Dormant period A spider orchid (Brassia) grows new pseudo tubers usually in the autumn. If you see them appear, the plant is still growing. Once they are mature (thick, full and hard to the touch) allow the plant a dormant period of approx. 8 weeks. Stand it somewhere cooler (about 16° C), and water sparingly only once a fortnight - no fertiliser at all. The medium it is growing in should not dry out entirely. New buds are formed during this dormant period after which your Brassia can be brought back into a warmer room and fed and watered once more.

The incredibly marked flowers of the spider orchid spread the most delightful smell. Yellowish green petals have cute brown spots on the upper parts. This is a fairly easily grown house plant that is sure to be frequently admired.
Brassia orchids originated in South America where they grow high in the trees of the rainforests, and on rocks. The aerial roots hold the plant tight to tree bark and splits in the rock. These roots feed on morning dew and rain water. This type of orchid needs a very airy growth medium as the roots are essential aerial roots.