Epidendrum Miura Valley Blooms Not Opening Completely
 

Hi all,

I've attached a photo to best show the problem. To describe the issue: at least one petal per flower seems to be firmly attached to the column (? not confident regarding my flower anatomy). I've tried freeing petals manually, and that just tears the petal or the column. Only one flower per bloom spike has opened correctly out of maybe 20 open per spike currently.

I have bloomed this orchid once before, a little over a year ago. I recall it did have some of this defect then as well. However, I was very new to growing orchids and I didn't document if the deformity was present on just a couple blooms or nearly all of them as it is now.

Has anyone else had this issue with an epidendrum? I initially thought it was due to humidity. However, it's been nearly 70% humidity for the duration of blooming which seems like it should be fine. Temperature has been moderate maybe up to low 80s for short periods and down to upper 60s at night, but largely in the 70s. It is in rather coarse media only watered twice a week. So maybe underwatering? I also moved it out from under grow lights to a not so sunny Southern window at the beginning of spike formation. Could it be not enough light?

Thanks so much for your thoughts! Hopefully I can fix this for next time.

I would water more often in flower. That might make a difference.

I have this one. Looking at pics of mine, you can see the flower head on the upper left is doing the same thing, but on the other two the flowers are fully open. I think the flower head in the upper left is older, nearly spent, and is having a bit of life sucked from it since it is putting out a keiki.

So yes, maybe more water, or perhaps its next bloom will be better. If you've recently repotted, perhaps let it establish itself. Mine just grows on a windowsill, in a bark mix. I do supplement the window with a grow light since there is a porch shading it, and I fertilize weakly with every watering.

Yours may keep blooming for awhile, it produces new buds at the center and the bloom bundle travels up the spike.

Thank you for your thoughts! Will try watering more.