Brassia Rex Blooms

[Lily]

Hello, and thanks for all of your help in the past. I contacted you
about a phalenopsis with a bumpy disease on the leaves and you
recommended bayer spray. I sprayed it several times, as recommended,
and the disease is halted and it is putting out a new leaf.
About six years ago, I purchased an orchid from a guy at the San
Francisco Garden Show at the Cow Palace. He said it was a Brassia Rex
'Sakata' and that it was easy to grow. It did grow well - it got huge
and never flowered. I cannot tell you how many times I thought about
throwing it away. I repotted it, split it into smaller plants and it
still got bigger. I put it in the sun and it burned and still got
bigger, I put it in the shade- turned dark green and got bigger.
Finally I put it in the greenhouse and forgot about it. It got misted
and dappled light and lots of heat (under 90 degrees). In July it put
out two flower stalks and about two weeks ago, they started opening
up. What did I do right? It is a dramatic flower. I posted two
pictures in the gallery. Any advice for taking care of this plant
would help - I have looked everywhere and keep finding different info
on different sites. Thanks in advance, Lily

[orchid doctor]

Dear Lily:

Please excuse the length of time it has taken me to get back to you! I
have been out of town, and not checking this site. I sounds to me like
the greenhouse has given the plant the optimal light level, not enough
to burn it, but enough to give the leaves the proper color (or so it
seems from the photograph). Also by "ignoring" it, you probably have
more consistently allowed it to dry to the proper level between
watering. and even given it the occasional rest it wants to encourage
bloom. Although some sources say to keep this plant evenly moist
throughout the year, I think it wants to dry somewhat between
waterings (given the big bulbs and leathery leaves), and to get a
drier rest in the winter when not in growth. (occasionally allow the
bulbs to shrink a but and become slightly ridged). It also can be
adapted to a very bright location and will tolerate some direct sun
well.

Try not to repot or divide this plant too much. Every three years is
ideal. And only do it when new root growth is just starting (often
when the newest top growth is 1/3 to 1/2 grown).

Hopefully it will bloom from now on!

Sincerely,
Dennis

[orchid doctor]

And i forgot to mention that as a heat lover, your hot days in the
greenhouse probably don't hurt either.

Dennis