Epidendrum noid photo

[Ethan]

I have the same epidendrum as yours. It is also a NOID, but I agree that it seems to be radicans or some relation. Mine was in bloom when I bought it (it wasn't very big) and is getting ready to bloom again - I can't wait!!

Incidentally, the interesting thing about these is that they keep growing and growing from the end of the same flower spike. The grower I bought mine from said he had one flower spike last for 15 months and the spike grew to over 6 feet long!!!

[quiltingwacko]

I clipped some of mine back because they had black streaks in the leaves. Still don't know why. Anyway, they then formed keikis on those old "spikes." Now the keikis are blooming too. Hardy determined little thing. Actually not so little anymore. Chid is growing better than weeds. Have to repot it again. Not to mention do something with the keikis!

[Ethan]

You just made me feel better - mine gets streaks on the leaves, too...they aren't black, but like a really dark purple or maroon, and it kind of deforms the leaf a little. I thought it was just me - it looks like insect damage, but for the life of me I can't find any bugs!!!

Does anyone have any thoughts on this??

Mine also did the same thing with the kei-kei's. When I clilpped it back last year it grew kei-kei-s and that's where the new flowers are coming from - it does grow like a weed!!

[quiltingwacko]

Well I finally decided nothing was wrong with it. After hearing this from you, that must be right.

[greenbean]

My Epi got purple streaks on the stems after I moved it outside for the summer. Some of it's new leaves were almost completely purple and I had it right up against a north-facing wall. Mine doesn't seem to like quite as much light as I've heard others need. It was growing in compacted dirt when I got it and looked awful. I moved it to fir bark and it didn't do much better. Then I moved it to pure sphag and it shot up! It's tripled in height in a little over a year, but still no bloom. It only has the sad stem from when I first got it and the happy one that has been growing since I got it. Maybe they need more mass to bloom?

[quiltingwacko]

Maybe it likes the chemistry of the sphagnum. I'll bet it is acid like peat moss. Perhaps some of that "bloom" fertilizer would help it along. My epi is so easy, I am spoiled. Perhaps there are growing hints on here for Epis.

[Hedge]

Thanks for the help. Mine is in a mineral based compound, and also has small black marks a the the centres of the leaves where they come away from the previous leaf. I usually use an acid feed called Miracle Grow for acid lovers on it and it certainly grows fast enough even though the pot is small.

I read somewhere that E radicans can grow in pure mineral and needs a sandy compost to help with this - wish I'd bookmarked that page .

As to light, I guess it will have to go in the green house. That's only single glazed and it does make a difference.How hardy are they? My greenhouse is kept frost free at around 2deg C

Thanks again

[Ethan]

This link seems to answer some of our questions:

Epidendrum radicans Orchids, Epidendrum radicans orchid, Orchid Growers

I think we are all doing the right thing with ours and it sounds like we are going to have quite a mass of plant to deal with in a couple years!!!

Evan - my only advice with the sphagnum moss is to be careful on the moisture. I originally had mine planted in moss/bark mixture because the guy I bought it from told me it liked to stay moist....it quickly developed root rot. I replanted it in coarse fir bark 6 months ago and now let it dry out inbetween waterings and it's doing really well.

[greenbean]

Thanks for the warning Ethan, but I have an unusualy tendency to underwater. The roots of my epi have never been happier than they are now in that sphag. I had it in bark and they persevered, but they didn't start growing until I put them in the sphag. I watch carefully to make sure the moss doesn't get compacted and it has no problems. Just to give you an idea of how badly I underwater, I almost lost an oncidium from underwatering. The roots didn't rot or get mushy, so it wasn't overwatering. They dried up!

[Ethan]

Underwatering is definitely not a problem I will ever have...I have to force myself to NOT water some days. LOL
I think every orchid I have ever lost has been due to root rot...I'm getting better, though!!!

I admire your ability to underwater, Evan!