Question
QUESTION: Hi Wayne King,

I bought a B.Nodosa cutting in Aug 2011. It has now two new shoots but before these two mature( leave is still folded & younger than their parents )I noticed there is a small new shoot coming out from the base(from one of the new shoots).

Why does this happen? There are about 5 old ones plus two new shoots in this cutting.

After I bought,I give a few week rest. Then I started watering.

Any idea?

Thanks in advance,
Nwe Lay

ANSWER: You were asking about the New shoot" at the base.  B. nodosa is highly variable in its growth. The new growth could be a new growth, new root growth, or  the start of a flower spike. I would tend to rule out new root growth as they normally start out with a green tip. Flower spikes tend to originate at the base of a leaf, but not always.  My best guess is that it is a new shoot growth.  If you have a picture, I might be more certain of its nature.

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B.nodosa   QUESTION: Hi Wayne King,

I've attched photo for your reference.

I think it will be new shoot.

But, why they produce new shoots (not even mature yet)?

Thanks,
Nwe Lay

Answer
I see a dark growth (ie shoot) emerging from an "eye" at the base of one old growth (right most growth). It remains to be seen whether this growth will mature.  Sometimes eyes will develop into new growth but the development is arrested.  You have a healthy plant with excellent root growth.  My one concern is that the roots are becoming aerial and not attaching to the substrate. The roots should anchor the plant to its growth medium.  Usually this only happens with new roots so the attachment may not have occurred yet because the roots in growth were already quite long.