Encyclia bractescens in bloom
 

A small species from Central America and Mexico

I've had this one a couple of years - it's been an easy going plant :) This past year, it has been growing in a west facing window that gets some direct sun from mid to late afternoon. Watered when the sphag on the mount is dry. I have not detected any fragrance, tho I have read that the species is fragrant ...

There is some pink on the lip, which I had difficulty capturing in the photos :p The best photos I got have the back drop of new wood, which is about the same color as the flowers - but the light there made for the best pix. Anyway - I hope you can see them ;)

Thanks for looking :)

Beautiful, and nicely grown!

Just curious, how long does it take to dry out between waterings this time of year?

Very nice! I hope you will soon get some fragrance, if not with this blooming, the next.

Thank you!

Right now our temps have been up and down a lot - so, it may get watered every day, or every other day if weather is cooler. In summer, I water it well daily. It's possible that during hot weather, it may be dry before the end of the day (I've not checked), but it's been ok with once a day waterings, tho exposed roots can dry out (maybe I should start spritzing those later in the day during hot weather, or add sphag to those areas) ;p

---------- Post added at 02:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:42 PM ----------

Thanks :)

I don't recall catching any fragrance last year, either - but maybe this is one that is fragrant either only early mornings, or when it's in the sun - I'll have to try to check at those times ;)

Very pretty, second picture is wonderful! Love the pink lip.

What a beauty!

I asked because the mounted Encyclias and Epidendrum relatives I have are crispy dry within a few hours, whether I soak them in a bucket overnight or get them wet with a spray bottle. A few Enc. seedlings from RF Orchids are in mostly LECA and charcoal, and I may have to move them, because even with daily watering they look water-stressed. My growing room has 40%-70% humidity and the mounts seem OK, but I always worry. I'm doing more and more of the long soaking to deal with slightly shriveled leaves.

ooooh aaaah love these cheery little guys! great growing!

Thanks everyone :)

That humidity doesn't seem bad. Summer daytime humidity is low here, but it's not all day. I have a little Encyclia hybrid growing outside here, and when it was in a 3" pot (clay), I had it in sphag.

I'm sure you'll work out the best way to keep them happy :)
I've given up on tiny seedlings because it's been impossible for me to get the watering right in summer :p

Lovely little orchid.