Rebloom on encyclia?

[mimigirl]

My encyclia cochleata just finished blooming. Can i cut the stem and get it to rebloom on the spike like a phal? Or is a phal the only orchid it would happen on?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Encyclias bloom more like Cattleyas, bloom once per spike. After, I let the old spike dry completely then cut it off.

With Encyclia the key to re-bloom seems to be keeping the roots healthy (try lava rock as a growing medium, or something similar) & good light.

[mimigirl]

On that same spike? BTW i m waiting for delivery on a new book.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Sorry, no, re-bloom on the next growth. You will get 1 spike from the top of a mature pseudobulb, after it blooms, its done (but the pseudobulb & leaves will feed future growth, and should remain on the plant)

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by mimigirl

My encyclia cochleata just finished blooming. Can i cut the stem and get it to rebloom on the spike like a phal? Or is a phal the only orchid it would happen on?

No, Encyclias won't rebloom on a previously bloomed spike, nor more than once from any growth (and only new growth blooms).

There are other orchids that can bloom from previously bloomed spikes (tho you only ever should cut any clearly dead parts of the spike) - some Epidendrums can bloom a long time from the same spike, same with Psychopsis and some Tolumnias, and sequentially blooming Paphs. Quite a few Dens can blooms from previously bloomed canes (tho not previously bloomed spikes). I'm sure there are other examples, but these are some of the most common ones.

[pipsxlch]

I don't have one so I may be totally off base, but isn't cochleata now classified as a Prosthechia? And a bit different in habit than 'classic' encyclias.

My sister has a Green Hornet (primary hybrid of cochleata), and it blooms off a single spike for months, even years. I DON'T know that it will rebloom off a stem that has gone dormant.
I think, if it were mine, I might leave the spike as long as it was green just in case.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by pipsxlch

I don't have one so I may be totally off base, but isn't cochleata now classified as a Prosthechia? And a bit different in habit than 'classic' encyclias.

My sister has a Green Hornet (primary hybrid of cochleata), and it blooms off a single spike for months, even years. I DON'T know that it will rebloom off a stem that has gone dormant.
I think, if it were mine, I might leave the spike as long as it was green just in case.

Interesting! I didn't know that (about Prosthechia reblooming on a spike)

Indeed, it never hurts to leave previously bloomed, but still green spikes - if it's a plant that can rebloom on the spike, it just might; if it's not a plant that can do so, no harm done

[mimigirl]

Thanks for all of your input!

[Orchid Whisperer]

P. cochleata does keep producing buds over a long time, but when it's done, its done. This is why you wait until the spike is dry before cutting. Per the original question, it won't make new spikes & buds if the old spike is cut.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

As was mentioned Prosthechia cochleata will stay in bloom on the same spike for quite a while, but one spike will only produce one set of blooms with a fixed number of flowers, and once the spikes are done, they are done - no more new blossoms will come out of that spike again.