ID help please

[Paytyn2flex]

Can you please help me ID this type of orchid? Any suggestions on how to pot it? It was given to me by a patient as cuttings. For the last year it's been hanging in a basket. The roots look happy just no flower spikes, so I'm wondering if I should pot it and what type of mix to use? Thanks in advance

[Roberta]

That looks like a reed-stem Epidendrum. Probably will be impossible to identify because many hybrids - and even among the species - look similar. It looks like it is doing quite well in that basket - a very good way to grow it. You may have to wait awhile for flowers... starting from keikis, it needs to get bigger to bloom. Once it does, this type of Epidendrum an become a non-stop bloomer. Just for the future - once it does bloom, don't be in a hurry to cut spent "canes" - the tips will dies back slowly, but the thicker part will still be alive and green, helping to support the plant, and pretty impossible to tell where the dead part ends and the live begins until things get brown and crispy.

Oh, and once in bloom, these are also hummingbird magnets. So be patient. It'll get to blooming size on its slooowwww orchid schedule.

[estación seca]

You could also take off a piece with roots, put it into a pot with medium to large bark, and put it somewhere else. Maybe it wants more light. It does look like it's getting plenty of light with the purplish leaves, but it's a good idea to try increasing light if an Epi or a Cattleya doesn't flower.

Along the coast in southern California people put these into garden beds in full sun. They flower constantly and spread to fill the beds. Farther inland it's too hot, and they won't grow in full sun. They might take full sun in your area.