Eulophia Guierensis Woes! (help)

[Don Perusse]

This Eulophia was potted up in a 4" pot in May 06 and has done nothing since. No leaves, no growth, no spikes, no flowers. What am I doing wrong or what should I be doing to make it produce? I've learned a lot being a member of OB, but don't let me down now. I really need your help or else in the trash she goes!

[lambelkip]

first of all, it can take a couple years for a Eulophia to recover from being re-potted. if yours was repotted in 2006, it's doing as expected. it looks healthy to me.

the species name is Eulophia guineensis, which is usually spelled wrong (it's wrong on the tag, and wrong a different way in your post)

when it was re-potted, it probably should have been put in a larger pot (you don't want to re-pot often, if it takes years to recover). it's a terrestrial, so it should have been potted in something a little more like potting soil (cymbidium mixes are good, some people prefer rock wool or leica, which retain mosture without promoting rot). I recommend leaving it in the bark, and letting the bark break down more.

it likes it warm, with high humidity. it also likes to be neglected during the winter (no watering for about 4-6 months, but keep the humidity up). new growth typically starts towards the end of the dry period.
when new growth is about 1.5 inches tall, resume watering. you can give it an occasional soaking, by partially submerging the pseudobulbs for a couple hours.

don't toss a healthy plant simply because it's not doing anything for you, there's plenty of people on this board who would love to try their hand at it, and would gladly pay for shipping.

[Don Perusse]

lambelkip - Thanks for the correct spelling of the Eulophia. I have changed my tag accordingly. I do have cym. mix but never used rock wool or leica, nor do I know where to get. Maybe I should bring into a south facing sun room instead of leaving in the G/H where the temp during the winter could get down to 50 degrees? And you really don't think I shoul move to a bigger pot and change soil mix at this time? Do you know what the flowers would look like?? Thanks again.

Don

[lambelkip]

you can repot it if you want too, but be very careful not to break the roots, they tend to be fragile. they like partial shade, so if you move it to your sun room, don't put it right next to the window. is the 50 degrees the high, or low for your greenhouse?
check out this link for a picture of the flowers.

[Don Perusse]

It would be LOW. Normally is above 55. Thanks for the link. So different, I've never seen before.

[lambelkip]

50 degrees is a little on the cold side for them, anyway. i'd move it to the sun room.

[Mike O'C]

Originally Posted by Don Perusse

This Eulophia was potted up in a 4" pot in May 06 and has done nothing since. No leaves, no growth, no spikes, no flowers. What am I doing wrong or what should I be doing to make it produce? I've learned a lot being a member of OB, but don't let me down now. I really need your help or else in the trash she goes!

Don, I have never grown that species but the pseudobulbs look very much like Eulophia steptopetala (I have seen it grown in Texas as Lissochilus krebsii). From my knowledge of Eulophia streptopetala (which is throwing out new growths for me now), I would suggest that you repot it into a bigger pot. I do not like rockwool or cultiwool as it is sometimes called. It is popular here but I kill my plants in it. Although I grow my Eulophia streptopetala in ordinary garden soil (mine is of a very clay type), I would recommend that you use a mix of bark, coarse gravel and crushed oak (Quercus quercus) leaves. Or use a cymbidium mix. Do not keep it too wet. I agree that you move it to a south facing window but also agree that you do not place it right next to the glass. I also agree about the watering but to withhold water for 6 months in my opinion is too long. In winter I would recommend that you do water once or twice a month but make sure that you have a mix that is well drained. I also agree that you do not trash it. Keep moving it around (a year at a time) until it starts to put out new growths and then leave it there until it flowers. Good lluck

[Don Perusse]

Thanks guys for all you advice. I WILL keep it and try something different from the past to see how she will respond. I will definately take pictures (if she ever blooms) so perhaps we can determine which eulophia?

[Mike O'C]

Originally Posted by Don Perusse

Thanks guys for all you advice. I WILL keep it and try something different from the past to see how she will respond. I will definately take pictures (if she ever blooms) so perhaps we can determine which eulophia?

Don,
glad Lambelkip and I were able to persuade you not to trash it but to persevere. Here in South Africa where we have quite a few indigenous Eulophia species, I must warn you that they do not flower every year in nature. Do not know why or what triggers flowering. Some years you see whole colonies in flower and the next year in the same area you will not see a single plant in flower in the same place. Whether it is veld (grassland) fires or whether it is rainfall, your guess is as good as mine.

[lambelkip]

Originally Posted by Mike O'C

Don,
glad Lambelkip and I were able to persuade you not to trash it but to persevere. Here in South Africa where we have quite a few indigenous Eulophia species, I must warn you that they do not flower every year in nature. Do not know why or what triggers flowering. Some years you see whole colonies in flower and the next year in the same area you will not see a single plant in flower in the same place. Whether it is veld (grassland) fires or whether it is rainfall, your guess is as good as mine.

carbon dioxide from grass fires can trigger blooming in any Eulophia species, some species will generally not bloom without them. guineensis is one of the ones that don't need fire to bloom. exposure to high levels of carbon dioxide from other sources can trigger blooming, too. (the plants bloom during the spring after exposure)

australia also has a couple of orchid species that only bloom after grass fires (Pyrorchis nigricans and Pyrorchis forestii). if you find a vendor where i can get either one, let me know.