Epidendrum type? Please, help ID

[m.dlny]

Greetings, dear orchid lovers and wizards,

I request your assistance in identifying this rogue orchid – about two and a half years ago, I picked up a few growths that fell off a tree (I live in South Africa and am pretty sure that it was not a local growing orchid, but a store-bought number that was put into a tree to grow outdoors). My inclination is that it is an epidendrum? It has never bloomed, so I cannot tell much more that what is in the photos.

I tried growing wet, dry, with and without rest period. The plants seem to do best with average watering and proper drying out in between, bright light (but not too much direct sun). After the dry rest it still did not bloom, however gave phenomenal new growth, thick canes and roots – twice the thickness of the original ones!

When the cane stops growing, it has a funny shaped leaf at the top – slightly bending inwards. I accidentally broke off the top of a new growth, and it happily let out two new ones below the break line. Generally, new growth comes from the bottom of the old canes. However, one of the canes started growing again from the top! I am guessing, it is an anomaly – perhaps, since I’ve been changing conditions so much?

I initially thought it a reed orchid, but have since acquired two – and I am not sure they are, unless it is a different variety of the same? Their leaves seem too long and too thin for a reed variety?

I will be grateful for any input any of you might have about what this is.
Thank you!

[Dollythehun]

That sure looks like a reed stem epi to me. They flower best with a little abuse. Try witholding water for a bit. I will say, mine didn't flower when it was that small.

[m.dlny]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

That sure looks like a reed stem epi to me. They flower best with a little abuse. Try witholding water for a bit. I will say, mine didn't flower when it was that small.

Dear Dollythehun,

Thank you for your input! I also wonder if the plant was just too small for any activity other than growth. Will try dry period again this year and see how I go )))

Thank you again!

[estación seca]

Also try to give more light, until leaves begin turning purple.

[m.dlny]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Also try to give more light, until leaves begin turning purple.

Dear estación seca, thank you for your comment. I recently went on a walk and saw an epi like this growing in the ground with leaves TWICE the length and width of mine ((((((

The reason I have not given more light is because I though it was already getting too much - leaves are not rounder, but thinner, more stretched out... Maybe I need to increase watering+light to get where I am aiming for ))))))

Since I have a few pots with them, I might try a couple with more light intensity to see how they compare )))

[Dollythehun]

Plants stretch for light. Leaves get longer and space between nodes becomes larger. In South America these grow by the side of the road and are cut down with a brush hog. They are tough. A Purdue researcher gathered mine from there.

[Fairorchids]

I grow reed stem Epidendrums in full sunlight in NJ (about 40 deg N latitude), where they are outdoors from late April (= night time temps down to 35F = 2C), through mid October or later (I bring them in when night time temps fall to 35F = 2C).

However, I grow them in clay pots with a spaghnum/bark mix (about 6:1 ratio), and make sure that they never go dry, watering 3 times a week while they are outside.

These plants need constant moisture, year round (no dry spell).

[m.dlny]

Kim,

Thank you for your input! I will be honest, I have struggled to "read" these guys.... I tried sunny and on the drier side - they grew tiny. I tried sunny (I mean, very sunny!) and on a wetter side - they lost their roots and there seemed to be a bit of a fungal issue.

Now they are growing in very good light - just so slightly shaded from direct sun, but still plenty of light - and watered well but with good drying out period. The plants look much better - the color is nice (a few shades darker than granny smith), the nodes between leaves are fairly short.... However, the leaves are longish and narrowish - my understanding from some threads about orchid leaf behaviour is that this means too much light... Maybe I need to keep them moist, as in your example?

So, I am utterly confused, to say the least )))) Since I have six pots of them, I might set up an experiment and keep them under different conditions to see if I cannot "crack" it ))))

[Ben_in_North_FLA]

certainly looks like an epidendrum radicans, which are practically fast growers and bloomers that grow in full sun. in Florida (USA) they are sold in garden centers starting in spring in full bloom for 6-7$ and grow like weeds with orange flowers. I would acclimate it to full sun and feed heavily (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) once a week, they can be watered daily. just googled a pic from web to show what it could look like if its the same plant.

[m.dlny]

Ben, thank you!

I have put two of them in the sun - they are turning slightly reddish and require watering quite often, but the new growth is very sturdy and the distance between leaves has shortened considerably!