Eriopsis - how to cultivate

[Lars Kurth]

Two years ago I bought two divisions of Eriopsis biloba and sceptrum with about 3 pseudo-bulbs each from Ecuagenera.

Although the plants have grown OK, one new pseudo-bulb each year and the bulbs of each year bigger than the ones from the previous year I have not managed to get them to flower yet. Maybe I am just impatient.

I could not find much conclusive information on the web with regards to growing conditions, except that best grown in shadier position (presumably like Phals) under intermediate to warm conditions, with roots not being allowed to fully dry out.

One thing which strikes me as odd with my plants is that new growth appears in autumn (Sept) and finish growing in (Feb-March). Then the plants sit there and do nothing all summer. Does anybody know whether Eriopsis grow in winter and flower in summer.

I found one article that suggests Eriopsis flower in autumn & winter in the southern hemisphere. That would suggest that the plants grow new bulbs in summer. Have my plants just not acclimatized to the northern hemisphere yet? If so, is there anything one can do but be patient? Or am I totally on the wrong track?

Lars