Den. porpax, or Epi. porpax, or peperomia - Take Your Choice - Orchid Board

voyager · #1 10-29-2016, 08:41 PM

I acquired on of these when I first began keeping orchids, back about Y2k.
It didn't do very well for me when trying to grow it in my Alaskan living room.
It bloomed once, then refused to do so a second time.
Finally, it wasted away after 3 years or so of disappointment with it.

When I got it, it was named Den. porpax.
Then, I saw this one in a local grower's setup over a year ago.
It was in bloom , somewhat, and was named Epi. porpax.
I immediately recognized the flower and was intrigued.
So, I snagged a copy of it.

I placed it under the eaves on the West side of the house.
It began wasting away like the 1st one.
So, I moved it along with a few others to a more shaded area on the branches of the Geometry Tree.
It likes it there!

It is not the prettiest orchid, but it took me over 15 years to figure out how to grow it.
That counts for something.

Pattywack · #2 10-29-2016, 09:22 PM

Very nice! I have this plant, tagged as Epidendrum porpax. Yours is very pretty in my opinion, congratulations on the growth and blooms.

DeaC · #3 10-30-2016, 11:24 AM

PaphMadMan · #4 10-30-2016, 12:07 PM

You obviously have mastered the conditions. Well done.

A couple comments on the name. When you saw this tagged as Dendrobium that was a mistake, plain and simple. It was never known under that name. No botanist would confuse Dendrobium and Epidendrum, but there probably have been many growers and hobbyists who have. It might have been seen as Nanodes or Neolehmannia over the years but Epidendrum is the original and currently accepted genus.

Epidendrum porpax and Epidendrum peperomia are very similar, but they are recognized as separate species, at least since 1976. I have no idea which you actually have, but its a nice one.

voyager · #5 10-30-2016, 03:15 PM

@ PaphMadMan

While checking around about the name for this one, I found that there are still a few people calling theirs a Dendrobium. Most are using Epidendrum. Then, a small subset of those are using Epi. peperomia.

The IOSPE has both Epi. porpax and peperomia listed. The photo with peperomia is a dead ringer for this one.
The photo with porpax looks similar but different, as well as looking as if it had been drug [dragged?] behind a horse from Phoenix to Salt Lake.
The reference to being a peperomia left me feeling that there might still be some contention as to which [porpax, or peperomia] is the correct name.
I still think of it as Dendrobium even though I now know better.

Tindomul · #6 10-31-2016, 10:58 AM

Well you've found it's happy place. Congrats. Its really interesting and cool.

voyager · #7 10-31-2016, 08:42 PM

Some of the photos I saw, while trying to nail down the name of this one, led me to think that if it continues to like where it's at, it might continue to grow on over the edges of the mount and form hanging sheets of the plant, ... not sure, but maybe. If so, it would be very interesting.

PaphMadMan · #8 10-31-2016, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voyager

Some of the photos I saw, while trying to nail down the name of this one, led me to think that if it continues to like where it's at, it might continue to grow on over the edges of the mount and form hanging sheets of the plant, ... not sure, but maybe. If so, it would be very interesting.

Yes, it is capable of that. Within about 2 years if it is really happy.