Epidendrum? - Orchid Board

greenbean · #1 11-04-2008, 06:15 PM

I got this orchid from my boss. Someone gave it to him at a Saturday market and he didn't even know it was an orchid! I rescued it and now it's growing rapidly and has turned from dull yellow-green (the color when I first got it) to an almost lacquered bright green. It hasn't flowered yet, and I don't expect it to for another year or two, so I can really only guess what it is. Can anyone give me their opinion? I'm not expecting a species name or anything, because that would be nearly impossible, just a general type would be great, so I know how to care for it properly. Thanks!

Chubidubi · #2 11-04-2008, 06:57 PM

It really looks like an epidendrum to me. BTW it looks really healthy. You're doing a great job.

greenbean · #3 11-04-2008, 07:06 PM

Thanks a bunch. I hope it blooms someday so I can post the pictures on OB and maybe even narrow down the ID!

greenbean · #4 11-05-2008, 08:09 PM

Can someone tell me how tall epidendrums generally get before they bloom? I know that they range from tiny dwarfs to 4+ foot giants, but is there an average? I'd like to be able to estimate how long it will take for mine to bloom. The tallest cane is currently about 36 cm or 14 inches tall and growing fast.

lepanthes89 · #5 11-05-2008, 09:32 PM

It looks like an E.radicans type.Usually red frilly flowers at the end of the canes,that can grow 3 plus feet.
Give it as much light as you can for good flowering

lambelkip · #6 11-05-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenbean

Can someone tell me how tall epidendrums generally get before they bloom? I know that they range from tiny dwarfs to 4+ foot giants, but is there an average? I'd like to be able to estimate how long it will take for mine to bloom. The tallest cane is currently about 36 cm or 14 inches tall and growing fast.

it depends on the exact species or variety, some never get that big. I have 2 in bloom (Epi porpax and Epi Star Valley). the porpax is about 2 inches, and won't get much bigger. the Star Valley is about 8 inches, and i'm not sure how much bigger it will get.

stonedragonfarms · #7 11-05-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lepanthes89

It looks like an E.radicans type.Usually red frilly flowers at the end of the canes,that can grow 3 plus feet.
Give it as much light as you can for good flowering

I'd agree with lepanthes and the later posts; it looks like a reed-stem type epidendrum, but there are many different sizes of them out there; I have a couple that top out around 16" or so, and a few that are taller than I am including their ever elongating spikes (and I'm 6'4!)

As a general rule, these are all very easy to grow, they will grow in just about any medium which drains well, they like regular fertilization as they have no prolonged rest period and most enjoy moderately high light to bloom well. I grow mine in full sun here in Michigan (under glass) year round, and they bloom endlessly.
Good luck!
Adam

greenbean · #8 11-06-2008, 12:22 AM

Thanks everybody! I'll just be patient (or try anyways

) and post pictures of the flowers when it does finally bloom. It sounds like I've been giving it the right care. Right now I've got it in sphagnum, as it had a very poor root system (it was in dirt when I got it!

) but it's growing very well now in a south window with "weakly weekly" feeding and the occasional flush of plain water. I might change to a faster draining medium when I repot it next, but it seems so happy in the sphag that I'll wait and see.

P.S. I have a book with Epi. porpax in it. It's so cute!