New Guinea Brassia

Half and half. It likes a bit of sun and a little shade. It will adapt to a lower light situation but won't thrive to its best potential!

Soak – dry – soak.

The best way to water it is to soak it until water runs out of the drainage hole. Discard any drained water because the plant doesn't like wet feet and this can cause root rot. Then let the top layer of soil dry out before watering it again .

Poke your finger into the soil to test its moisture level. If the top inches of the soil are dry to the touch, proceed with watering. But if you can feel moisture, wait before watering it. The aim is to keep the lower level of soil moist but not soggy. It’s a bit of experimenting to get to the right balance but don’t worry, you’ll get it after a bit of trial and error.

Start with roughly 3 times a week. More in the hot, summer months, less in the monsoon and cooler seasons.

1. Trim off brown leaves snipping closely to the branch.

2. Scrape off any white mould on top of the soil. It’s just harmless fungi that lives in the soil. Lightly dust the soil with ground cinnamon.

3. Poke holes in the soil with a chopstick to aerate it and and give your plant a bit of extra breathing room. Sprinkle a tablespoon of vitamins in the soil and massage in.

4. Shine its leaves with a damp cloth, gently removing any dust. Front and back. This not only makes your plant look nicer but also helps it to soak in light more easily.

5. Spin it around to make sure its leaves are sunned evenly as it tends to grow towards sunlight.

6. Clean your cork mat with soap and water or white vinegar.