Encyclia vitellina - short lived?

[Zdenglan]

Hi everybody,

I recently purchased a seedling of E. vitellina because I always wanted one. It's been growing happilly in a cool glasshouse and has 3 leads. Not long ago I got a culture sheet from the Bakers and they claim it tends to be short lived ....hmmm...I don't like the sound of that so much. Have any of you had this experience? Thanks for any info....

[bandeeorchids]

Does the culture sheet from the Bakers means short lived flowers or short lived plant?

[PaphMadMan]

I have never grown this species, but the Baker culture information in OrchidWiz says they are unsure if the plant is naturally short lived or if it is because they are often grown too warm. If you can provide the truly cool conditions it requires I'd bet on it having a long life. You've got the Baker info, follow it closely.

If you like to keep up with name changes, you may be more likely to see this as Prosthechea vitelliina in the future.

[xristie9]

Hello, I have the vitellina too, I also heard it doesn’t live long but it doesn’t mean it will die soon; she will live for several years. I think the older pseudobulbs will tend o die sooner as by other orchids, that´s all.

[got ants]

Looking at pics of the plant in situ, I would tend to agree...the older p-bulbs die off...

[RosieC]

I don't know about this orchid, but I would think that if it seems short lived it may be due to incorrect culture being common in clutivation.

I remember reading an article by Mauro about a Cattleya which most growers believe to 'have a death wish' in cultivation, but Mauro talks about how it's a case of understanding the plant's changing needs throughout the year, and providing them.

From the look of the one growing in-situ it looks as though it grows new p-bulbs and the old ones die. In that case I can't see why it should be short lived in nature, because the new bulbs are just that... new and young, doesn't matter how old the old ones are. So I would think that given the right conditions it could keep going, it's case of finding those right conditions.

[Zdenglan]

thanks everybody for all the posts! And waving to Xristie9! I myself come from the Czech Rep.
My E. vitellina is only a teeeeeny baby but so far doing fine, it had a bit of a sulk during the hot spell in June that struck us here in the UK, but started growing again as soon as the weather cooled down in July... I guess time will show..I can't precisely replicate the condititions suggested in the Baker's sheet but doing my best....
Thank you again!