Epidendrum ellipticum interesting find

[Ross]

I have had some questions for Andy over the last few months about my ellipticum that I purchased from him. At first it was fine - white blossoms tinged with pink just like the descriptions. Reed-stemmed Epi that grows approx 6-7" tall - just fine. I posted pictures way back when I got it



But this year, after lots of TLC, the plant exhibited some strange characteristics. One of the growths was extreme compared to the others. There was no blossoming at the time so I thought maybe too much fertilizer and not enough light? I called Andy and we discussed the situation after he saw the image that follows. His assessment was that it was lack of sunlight and it was stretching out. But, I thought (dangerous, to be sure ) the leaves are bigger, the stem thicker, the stem just as purple, the leaves tinged with purple, the plant in full sunlight (for Michigan) so what's up? Finally the plant bloomed. The older growths bloomed out just as before - white flowers tinged with pink - perfect. Then I noticed a spike on the tallest growth (by now there are two other growths as well) and figured I might have to move it 'cause of the height. It came into bloom on a short spike and the flowers are all pink and rose colored - no white.

The taller one is E. quitensium and the others in front are E. ellipticum. The quitensium is solid pink with rose throat. The ellipticum is white with a blush of pink, smaller blosssoms and a pink throat.

Andy told me to just "tease apart the plants" and pot up in small bark. Now I have two different spp where once I had one. Sometimes things work out for the best

[Dorothy]

Cool Beans, Ross
Two orchids are always better than one