Eulophia petersii

[Vanda Vanda]

Eulophia petersii
I just got this plant today. I potted it and it's currently dry
I know it's typically kept dry from Nov to March but since I I just got it should I water it at all?

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!

A little water will do no harm. (It does look a little desiccated, likely no problem) It doesn't have a rigid need for dryness in the winter, but it does need little or no water. Mine lives outside (in a climate that gets chilly but no serious frost) where it will get rained on if there is rain (quite infrequent, and unpredictable) , I ignore it otherwise during the winter, water the rest of the year. Treat it like a succulent... it's more like a cactus than an orchid.

[Vanda Vanda]

Thanks for the advice. I did water it because it seems quite dehydrated. I will hold off watering for the winter now.

Someone in a Facebook group told me that this plant will not grow because it is supposed to have three pseudobulbs which it doesn't.
It has one bulb but has one starting at the base.
What do think about that?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Vanda Vanda

Thanks for the advice. I did water it because it seems quite dehydrated. I will hold off watering for the winter now.

Someone in a Facebook group told me that this plant will not grow because it is supposed to have three pseudobulbs which it doesn't.
It has one bulb but has one starting at the base.
What do think about that?

It will grow, but probably more slowly than if it had more pseudobulbs. The species is sloowwwww anyway. The general rule for divisions of anything is 3 p-bulbs to have the energy to thrive. But this one is slower but more robust than most, likely it will make new growth anyway in the spring. It will be some years before it's big enough to bloom. So just be patient. Give it some water every few weeks through the winter, it doesn't have a lot a reserves. Desert plants are opportunists, they can survive for a very long time with no water, but if they get some winter "rain" they can benefit from it, just don't want to stay wet,.

[Vanda Vanda]

Awesome thanks so much 😄

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Have a look at this entire thread and all my posts therein:
Eulophia petersii

I knew the people who brought Eulophia petersii into cultivation in the US years ago. Cactus and succulent growers have forgotten what they were taught about this plant, forgotten how this grows, and do not water/fertilize it enough in the summer. It has a strongly seasonal growth pattern and doesn't grow during the Winter.

A one pseudobulb division is fine for propagation, should grow strongly the next season, but would not likely flower until 2026. If your pseudobulb was divided and repotted recently, it probably has a minimal root system, and if you don't water at all this winter, it will lose those few roots. Follow Roberta's advice and water it every few weeks through the Winter.

Where do you live? When does it get warm in Spring? When the weather warms up, keep it as warm as possible, and water regularly. It will begin making new growth from the base along with new roots. It tolerates outdoor Phoenix temperatures over 110 F / 43C and higher with no problems. I must give some shade but people in cooler climates, like southern California, can grow it in full sun.

I realize it's difficult to do the opposite of what you may read online, but once this plant begins growing in Spring, it should not dry out until all growths are mature the next Fall. It comes from grassland and gets plenty of summer water in habitat.

[Vanda Vanda]

Thank you so much. I feel better now about this plant. I will definitely follow the advice. I appreciate it.