Encyclia (or Prosthechea) cochleatum - new addition - help!

[mauraec]

I just acquired this lovely cochleatum - I like to think of the English epithet "Cockleshell Orchid"). Seems there's a bit of a controversy surrounding the genus - Michael Saar might want to clear that up.

Anyway, I'm used to having light-greedy plants, some cool-growers, some warm. I'm reading that this one is a bit different. Can any of you veteran cochleatum-growers out there help with where in my house this will do best and what your watering/fertilizing routine is? It's now in medium to small bark chips from the nursery, but they seem to put all their plants in that, so maybe the medium needs looking at, too.

Still, I'm very excited about adding another species to my collection!

Here are a couple photos:








Thanks for all your help -

Maura

[espranch]

Maura, mine is mounted, and is in my greenhouse. I do know that high humidity is a requirement of this particular orchid. By the way...Yours is very beautiful. Betty

[mauraec]

Maura, mine is mounted, and is in my greenhouse. I do know that high humidity is a requirement of this particular orchid. By the way...Yours is very beautiful. Betty

Thanks, Betty - I think I knew you had one from researching other threads. I'll bet yours is amazing, but I have no way to mount mine anywhere appropriate, and, needless to say, no greenhouse. I'm going to invest in humidity trays for indoors, where my plants stay during the hot days - they go out at night into the cooler, heavily saturated Atlanta air. I mist at least 2x a day. Q: How warm/cool do yours like it?

Thanks...

[Cjcorner]

I have one...and mine grows nicely but doesn't bloom. I am moving it around to see where it like's it best. So far, high light and low light it just sits there. I've given it the normal pep talk...shown it pics of other plants like it in bloom...nothing has worked so far. I'm thinking of waving snails over it next... I'll be watching this thread to see if anyone has any idea we can try. So far even my honey hasn't worked!

[mauraec]

I have one...and mine grows nicely but doesn't bloom. I am moving it around to see where it like's it best. So far, high light and low light it just sits there. I've given it the normal pep talk...shown it pics of other plants like it in bloom...nothing has worked so far. I'm thinking of waving snails over it next... I'll be watching this thread to see if anyone has any idea we can try. So far even my honey hasn't worked!

Oh boy - and these are supposed to be easy to grow - hah!

[espranch]

I, personally never did find them to be "easy." However, many people say that they are easy to grow & bloom. Not so with me. Betty :-)

[Daethen]

The one I got was declining on me until I added a bunch of sphag to the mount. I don't have great humidity. It has since put out about four new growths. All are still pretty young. When sent to me it had 3 sheaths and still does. Has not bloomed yet for me, but is finally starting to look healthy in my care. I will be watching this thread so that I can get in on the tips to bloom it.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Ours seems to do well with neglect. We grow it alongside our heat tolerant phrags and it blooms every year. It is grown in a bark mix like we use for dendrobiums and cattleyas.

cheers,
BD

[mauraec]

Ours seems to do well with neglect. We grow it alongside our heat tolerant phrags and it blooms every year. It is grown in a bark mix like we use for dendrobiums and cattleyas.

cheers,
BD

Thanks, Bruce! So, it's pretty heat and light tolerant, I guess.... but I can't help but wonder if your standard of "neglect" is the same as mine!

Maura

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Thanks, Bruce! So, it's pretty heat and light tolerant, I guess.... but I can't help but wonder if your standard of "neglect" is the same as mine!

Maura

My neglect is pretty rough. LOL!

cheers,
BD