Epidendrum Culture - Orchid Board

Rhynno · #1 06-09-2010, 03:11 PM

I just picked up a reed stem epidendrum and can't find a lot of information about their culture other than they are super easy. The plant looks like a hybrid, is only about 18 inches tall and has yellow/green tiny blooms with a light scent. The plant was potted in pure sphagnum moss. I repotted into a medium bark mixture with chopped sphagnum, charcoal and perlite. I understand that I could have even potted it in soil with added perlite and charcoal. Is this right? The plant had a lot of small roots (a lot were rotted so I cut them off) and a few new roots that were about three times as thick (coming out of the sides of the reeds at the base). Is this normal to have two different sizes of roots? Any additional info about these interesting orchids is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Ryan

richardb · #2 06-09-2010, 03:21 PM

These reed stem Epidendrums are super and flower really easily. I have radicans and secundum, both reach the top of my greenhouse before flowering regularly. The flowers are sequential and the spike lasts for months. Mine are in much the same mix as yours, but I repot very seldom and water lots in the growing season. I grow mine as Intermediate minimum 13c.

tcrane · #3 06-09-2010, 03:34 PM

I've got a reed-stem, it's loving a space in a south/east facing window. The more light and warmth it gets, the more it grows. Currently it's sending out three new stems after blooming on two of them. From what I've read, these are *super* easy to care for, which is great. Mine is potted in loose large bark, seems like it likes lots of air in those roots - I wonder if the moss was the cause of your root rot issues? It should do better in a dryer medium. Oh, and I mist mine every morning, water once a week and it's growing like a weed.

-Tristan

WhiteRabbit · #4 06-09-2010, 03:40 PM

I have a very small reed stem epi (maybe porpax ?)- lost the name. I have had it for several years, but haven't got it to bloom yet - likely due to culture. I had no success at all growing it in any type of fine dense media. It only grew decently once I potted it in bark, or now in coconut husk chips. I also apparently was way under-watering it til last year. It's hot and dry here in the summer. I now keep it moist, not allowing it to dry in-between watering, and it has taken off with lots of new growth. Moderately bright to very bright light (introduce to bright light gradually). Mine seems rather tolerant to lower temps, tho that's low for California, probably not Canada

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 06-09-2010, 04:50 PM

Unless you know for sure exactly what kind of Epidendrum you have, and you know that it is for sure found as a terrestrial, I wouldn't grow it as a terrestrial.

I think the bark you have it in is fine.

Do know that the genus Epidendrum is pretty large, and culture is varied from species to species. Hybrids are a bit more homogenized in cultural requirements.

Izzie · #6 06-09-2010, 05:28 PM

Best guide I've ever found: Reed-stem Epidendrum

Very detailed, excellent information.

Rhynno · #7 06-09-2010, 05:51 PM

Is the culture of reed stem epis difficult? Mine's a noid reed stem but that's about all I know. I fully expect that it's a hybrid. I plan on treating it pretty much the same as my dendrobium phalaenopsis (full sun (I'll increase it gradually, thanks for the tip

)but not let it dry out in between (again, thanks for the tip

)). Does that sound about right? Do the hybrids produce keikis a lot like some of the well known species? Thanks for the help

. I hope that it doesn't get crazy tall like tcrane.

Izzie · #8 06-09-2010, 06:02 PM

The culture isn't hard at all- you should find all you need to know on the link I posted.

Rhynno · #9 06-09-2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzie

The culture isn't hard at all- you should find all you need to know on the link I posted.

Hi, sorry I was posting on my phone and for some reason I could only see one or two replies but not all of them. Thanks everyone for the help, the guides and sharing your experiences with epis!

Cheers,

Ryan

Rosiefuture · #10 06-10-2010, 02:51 AM

I have quite a few epidendrums some are in hanging baskets, some in pots and some in the ground. The temperature range here in Western Australia is from about 40F to 100F+, we don't get frost at all. As long as the water is kept up to them they just keep going and going. The ones I have in the ground are under a mulberry tree and a variegated ficus and are happy and flower well. Mine produce heaps of keiki's and once the aerials are 3-4 inches long I remove them and pot them up. This is why I have so many and have given so many away! LOL

I have orange, red, deep pink, white and lilac, I believe there is a gold called Butterball and I'd love to get one of them.

Marion