Is it a spike? Is it?!?!

[Vanda lover]

One of mine in s/h stayed in bloom for 11 months. Then it takes quite a while before they bloom again.

[Silje]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

One of mine in s/h stayed in bloom for 11 months. Then it takes quite a while before they bloom again.

Quite a while, eh? Like...five years? *Mumble mumble*

11 months sounds like something worth waiting for, even if it'll be a while before the show is on again.

[Bud]

I know of some members who stress the plants to almost burning the leaves for the orchid plant to give flowers. You know the trick now.
But this kind of orchid plant can be gradually weaned to direct sun light. In fact many growers plant this as a hedge in Southern California areas....you are in South Africa and the sun is pretty much temperate as opposed to the equatorial sun of the African Sahara.

[Silje]

Originally Posted by GardenTheater

That is awesome!!! What a wonderful surprise for you!

You know, I actually start to believe the pictures I've seen and the comments I've read where people claim that these epidendrums can flower. For a couple of years there, I wasn't quite convinced.

[Bud]

Once you make these bloom; it will keep on blooming so don't cut the spike. It also triggers the rest of the plant to spike on new mature growths. The old leaves have burned and shriveled because they were not used to direct sun. You have the right instinct in giving it moisture. This is the kind of orchid plant that never rots even if you overwater it.

* I have ten kinds of Epidendrum ( I have the red reed stem kind and the cinabarinum kind= similar to the plant you have ) and they all flower for me and I only give them outdoor in the warm summer months and the rest of the year they are indoors on my brightest window sill. So I was wondering why you had a hard time flowering them when you have outdoors all year round....then it dawned on me that you had to give it more water for moisture and humidity....

[Silje]

Originally Posted by Bud

I know of some members who stress the plants to almost burning the leaves for the orchid plant to give flowers. You know the trick now.
But this kind of orchid plant can be gradually weaned to direct sun light. In fact many growers plant this as a hedge in Southern California areas....you are in South Africa and the sun is pretty much temperate as opposed to the equatorial sun of the African Sahara.

It just...feels...so wrong to put it out there in the scorching sun in the beginning. My part of Namibia has hot arid/semi-arid climate and the temperatures in the sun at midday is often more than 40 degrees Celsius and with the very low humidity on top of that. South Africa, for the most part has milder and more tolerable climates than we do.

But anyways, these epidendrums obviously enjoy A LOT of sun, much more than e.g. my vandas and my ansellias.

[Bud]

Right, as much as possible give them sun all day. This orchid plant needs high light, high humidity and warm temperatures....of which you were able to provide so it is blooming for you.

[Vanda lover]

I find that some bloom easier then others. I have a red one that is slower to bloom and didn't bloom as long but it is nice and compact. I have an orange ball that is a really good bloomer. When it finishes a flower cluster it will often sprout a new one out of the side of spike.
My pinkish one is slow to bloom, too tall with small flowers.

[Bud]

give it more light and more warmth....you already have high humidity =you have heavy rains even in winter....
Silje has lots of light and warmth but lesser humidity....when she gave the plant more water it bloomed for her.

follow the culture of the plant and you will never go wrong

Reedstem Epidendrum Culture

[Island Girl]

Yay!!! Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you!! and, omg, I can't wait to see the flowers on this!!