Encyclia Cindy
 

This Encyclia Cindy is about 3 years old. I bought at an orchid show & it was a little pee wee about 3 inches tall. I live in Cocoa Beach about 3 blocks from Ocean. I have it facing east under a shefflera tree, so on a clear day, it will get 2-3 hours full sun, it has been in this spot for over a year. It has added lots of roots, has started to develop psuedo bulbs at the base of growths, has a new growth. I water it irregularly every 3-4 days if it has not gotten rained on. My questions are: Do the leaves look ok? Should I move it? Should I water it more regularly? Should it be blooming soon? 2nd pic is a close up, 3rd pic is a side view, encyclia is in the bottom fork of branches. Thanks. I added a close up of psuedo bulb.

Tim Abbott

I would leave it where it is right now. 3-4 hours of morning sun is probably OK. Most encyclias bloom in the spring and summer. Your plant looks mature enough to bloom this season. If it doesn't bloom this year you might consider finding a spot with a little more light. But wait and see. I like the fact that you have it mounted because encyclias prefer to dry very quickly. If the newest psuedobulbs are plump then it's getting enough water. I assume you're fertilizing it also. Weekly, weakly is appropriate. For mounted orchids it's important to use a fertilizer with much of the nitrogen coming from nitrate, not ammonium or urea. Good luck, I hope it blooms for you.

Thanks so much for your help tucker85.

Tim Abbott