Special needs for Epidendrum

[Ferns Daddy]

After seen all the great flowers on these I went and ordered one, I'm in zone 5/6 I know there grown as potted plants is there any special care I need to know about them, I'm going to pot them in a fast drain mix. Do they need any special kind of food / full or part sun? I think the one I ordered is a common one the ad said orange reed stem orchid ( epidendrum ) but its a start

[greengarden]

Mine actually prefer a finer mix although I don't think they care too much to be honest. I have some growing in a small orchid chip in a pot that doesn't drain very fast and they are thriving.

[Bud]

chances are you have an Epidendrum cinnabarinum, and warm zone growers plant them outdoors in soil grown as hedges....
I read about a member from Southern California asking a neighbor for come cuttings in the adjascent yard.
The North East frost will decimate it with blizzards and all....
If you got it bare root, pot it in a seedling orchid mix the smallest coarse mix; if you have the medium then add some potting soil 50-50; thats what I did with my reed stem Epidendrums....get a clear plastic pot so you can monitor the roots....when the nights are starting to be in the 50's put it outdoors in shaded sun

[silken]

I just bought one called Epi. Lovely Valley. It's one of the smaller ones. The grower said these are hard to kill but do well if allowed to get dry before watering. I think they like a fair amount of light. Sort of like Cattleya culture. Of course I am new to it too. Just what the grower and OrchidWiz says. Mine is in med. bark and a bit of moss in a clear plastic pot with good aeration and drainage holes.

[Ferns Daddy]

Thanks for the help,now I have a change of growing them

[WhiteRabbit]

Hmm... my two Epis seem to like a lot of water, especially in summer. In winter (growing in cool damp weather), I keep them a bit dryer. I have ellipticum (smallish species), and Lakeview. The ellipticum languished for a couple if years til I upped the water in summer a lot.

Lots of sun for these also.

[Stray59]

Fernsdaddy:
You might have cinnabarinum or radicans (not sure of the difference, but there are good examples of each on Google search)
I have a couple Epi. radicans and they prove very tough for me - lots of light and water in the growth months, slacking back some in the rest period. Pretty standard light loving orchid. No particular orchid food for these, just the standard that I use for everything else.
Mine keiki all the time and I went from a couple small cuttings into blooming size plants in one season - they mature rather quickly.
Epi. radicans is one that grows as an epiphyte and as a lythophyte - they are often found in gravel beds attached to surrounding rocks, from what I have found on them. One of mine is in sphagnum moss and the others are in Leca & tree fern fiber; either way they are doing well and love to be misted.
I like mine a lot - good bright colors, consistently in bloom. Hope yours does as well!
Let us know-
Steve

[Ferns Daddy]

One more question, my Epi came in today not only was the one I ordered but there was 5 plants in the box, with a note from the seller saying not to cut the flower stock off after its done blooming, they didn't say why. Should I cut it off or leave it ?
Thanks

[WhiteRabbit]

My Epi ellipticum keeps blooming on spikes for quite some time, and has also gotten keikis on old spikes.

[Ferns Daddy]

Thanks for the help, so I'll keep the spikes and hope for keikis