Encyclia tampensis flowering size

[Kyle Karsten]

1st time posting on the forums here. I have been growing phals for about 5 years with my first plant still growing strong and flowering at least twice a year! My work recently moved to Wood Dale IL and looking to see what was in the area, I found a place called Hausermann's. So, I went during my lunch just to check it out... bad idea. Not only was I late getting back to work but I had to hide a couple little mounted orchids in my machine shop for the remainder of the day (hoping nobody would ask what I was doing with these little weeds tied to pieces of wood ). These are my first mounted orchids. Bulbophyllum tingabarinum and Encyclia tampensis. My question is about the Encyclia.

The plant is tiny. It could easily fit into a soup can and not be cramped. I am in the process of building a paludarium and I thought these would work well in there. So I hung them over one of my aquariums (my real addiction) to help with the humidity. It gets morning sun from a east window. Within a week I noticed major growth. I mist them every morning with RO water and fertilize them weekly. Today, I noticed what seems like a flower spike growing behind one of the pseudobulbs! I was expecting to have to wait a year or two to see any flowers. So, is this normal at this size and anything I should do in the future to help with blooming... If that is what's happening? Is this a spike?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

That's a new growth.

I'd give it another year or two before expecting any flowers from the little guy.

I believe they bloom from between the leaves at the very top of the pseudobulbs.

[plumania]

I have my Encyclia tampensis mounted on a Mango tree. They grow fine on it and do not really need much watering.They are native to Florida.
Flower spike originates from top of pseudobulb,between leaves. So,the growth you have is most likely new pseudobulb emerging. Psesudobulbs grow really close to each other.

[lexusnexus]

Welcome to the board. Hausermann's is highly thought of here. In fact I just received a blooming phal and a young paph from them. They were in great shape when they arrived here in MD.