How to get Enc.tampenis va Alba to bloom

[Anne McGee]

I have had Enc. tampenis va. alba 'Mendenhall' for
three years. It is mounted, and the roots and foliage look great, but it does not bloom Help! Anne

[pipsxlch]

Hi Anne, I'd guess (assuming the plant is blooming size, and these bloom pretty small) that yours wants more light. Can you post a picture of yours?

I remember when I was a kid going to the Posse Grounds in Loxahatchee FL (an equestrian show ring I'm sure is long gone) and seeing the pine trees just covered in tampense. The location was bright and airy, if you've been to South Florida and seen the pine scrub you can see how exposed all the epiphytes on the pines are. In denser cypress woods, they always seemed to be on the treetops and at the verge, not in the shady areas.

I live at the extreme northern edge of their range now, and my specimen gets bright dappled to full sun all year round. These bloom once a year (most commonly mid June), so you probably won't get anything this year. But without knowing more, I'd up the light.

[Anne McGee]

Thanks for the advice! I was wondering if the Enc tampenis needed a cool or dry period to bloom or something else to shock it. Anne

[silken]

Originally Posted by Anne McGee

Thanks for the advice! I was wondering if the Enc tampenis needed a cool or dry period to bloom or something else to shock it. Anne

According to OrchidWiz it does grow cooler and drier in winter in its habitat. But not a true dry season. Sounds like typical Cattleya culture for the most part. When increasing sunlight, do it slowly so as not to burn the leaves.

[pipsxlch]

Our weather pattern here is hot/wet summer and cool/dry winter. It's not bone dry except in the late winter/spring for about 6 weeks. Summers get daily or almost daily rain, winters we get the continental fronts maybe once every week or two. Our humidity is pretty much always pretty good. Dry (cool days in the winter) is 30-40%. Cool nights in the core of its range (s. Fl.) rarely drop to 50F or lower. Here at the northern edge we do get 40sF and a rare 30s. I don't know if it needs the cool off as much maybe as the dryout, blooming roughly coincides with the start of our rainy season (mid May to early/mid June).

I still suspect the lighting, keep in mind where these grow the trees don't shed their leaves in the fall.

[Anne McGee]

Thanks for the further information! It has not been getting direct sunlight. My house is much cooler in winer, especially at night, and since it is mounted, it
does dry out quickly and I'm not as vigilant about watering in the winter. I also live on the coast with
wind and humidity. I think will put it outside in a tree
and hope the sprinkler hits it when I don't. Anne
ps I'll let you know next June!