epidendrum capricornu help

[tmoney]

hi ob,

so we have had this epid capricornu for over a year now. it has rebloomed a couple times, but we desperately need some guidance.

when the plant came to us it had canes that were over 50 cm tall, about 10 or more that size. right away a few died and we made the rookie mistake of cutting them off. so the plant languished and has consistently grown new shoots that either die right away, or grow only about 10 cm tall before just losing all their leaves one at a time.

we have it in the same medium as our phals, and we give it the same watering and fert schedule. it is in the same location as many phals, getting a little morning sun followed by most day bright shade. our temp range seems ok from what i read online, but perhaps getting a little too hot in summer.

anybody give us a little help based on this info? are these known as high humidity plants or something? i can't find much other specific info, but everything i read seems to infer they do great in general household conditions.

thanks in advance for any tips!!

[estación seca]

From IOSPE:

Found in Ecuador and Peru at elevations of 1700 to 2750 meters as a small to medium sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte....

In addition it will be very humid, wet and cold there most of the evenings of the year. I wouldn't think you could grow this with Phals or somebody would be very unhappy.

Edit: And maybe water a lot more.

[Roberta]

What ES said... and you learned the hard way, those "dead" Epidendrum canes aren't. Old canes, after they lose leaves, are the reserves for the plant - serve the same purpose as pseudobulbs. Same advice for related genera such as Barkeria.

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by estación seca

From IOSPE:

In addition it will be very humid, wet and cold there most of the evenings of the year. I wouldn't think you could grow this with Phals or somebody would be very unhappy.

Edit: And maybe water a lot more.

thanks es! yeah, we had read that page several times over the last year trying to figure how to make it happy. so the humidity is where you are thinking? i have never been to peru at those elevations so wasn't too sure what the weather is like there!!

we will try watering more to start. that's easy enough.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by tmoney

thanks es! yeah, we had read that page several times over the last year trying to figure how to make it happy. so the humidity is where you are thinking? i have never been to peru at those elevations so wasn't too sure what the weather is like there!!

we will try watering more to start. that's easy enough.

Watering is something that you can fix. The "cool evenings" part is a lot harder.

Those higher-elevation species tend to do well for me outside all year (though I have had not great success with Epi. capricornu, have done better with related species) but I try to stay away from orchids that need warmth because GH is tiny and I don't have room. No single environment works for everything - orchids are too variable. So one learns... nobody can grow everything unless they have different greenhouses to mimic different climates. Pick the ones that work for your growing environment, lots to choose from.

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Watering is something that you can fix. The "cool evenings" part is a lot harder.

Those higher-elevation species tend to do well for me outside all year (though I have had not great success with Epi. capricornu, have done better with related species) but I try to stay away from orchids that need warmth because GH is tiny and I don't have room. No single environment works for everything - orchids are too variable. So one learns... nobody can grow everything unless they have different greenhouses to mimic different climates. Pick the ones that work for your growing environment, lots to choose from.

for sure, you are totally right roberta! we have learned a lot over the last year.

perhaps the greatest lesson is, "don't click add to cart just cause you think the flowers look cool". i'll throw it outside double water like we do for oncidiums. let's see what happens!!!! thanks a bunch for the input

[estación seca]

I think your main problem is too-high temperatures. Imagine a spring night in Germany with cold drizzle and mist. Not freezing but cold. That's what cloud forest plants expect every night.

[Roberta]

Mine put up with conditions a bit drier and warmer than that, but still cool, and humidity most of the time going up to 70-80% at night, summer nights usually around 68 deg F (20 deg C), perhaps a bit more in August. Still relatively cool and damp.

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I think your main problem is too-high temperatures. Imagine a spring night in Germany with cold drizzle and mist. Not freezing but cold. That's what cloud forest plants expect every night.

thank you for the visual explanation!! i think all plants should have a localized explanation attached like that
it moved to its new home last night, but summers are gonna be a challenge, as you say....

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

Mine put up with conditions a bit drier and warmer than that, but still cool, and humidity most of the time going up to 70-80% at night, summer nights usually around 68 deg F (20 deg C), perhaps a bit more in August. Still relatively cool and damp.

the balcony can get quite cool at nights in summer, so hopefully it will at least turn a corner and not just keep withering away. buuuuuttt....anybody in europe want an epidendrum, perhaps??!

[elljorgo]

Originally Posted by tmoney

thank you for the visual explanation!! i think all plants should have a localized explanation attached like that
it moved to its new home last night, but summers are gonna be a challenge, as you say....

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 PM ----------



the balcony can get quite cool at nights in summer, so hopefully it will at least turn a corner and not just keep withering away. buuuuuttt....anybody in europe want an epidendrum, perhaps??!

How did the summer went with this capricornu?
Really curious to know.