Epi. Green hornet

[sand_tiger86]

I just bought an Epidendrum (or encyclia) Green hornet bag baby from a big box today. The flowers look so cool, I couldn't help myself! Does anyone have any experience or suggestions in growing these? I know nothing about them...All I know is I habitually murder miltassias and the foliage and growth habit is almost identical. Poor little thing. It doesn't stand a chance. lmao

[wetfeet101b]

Do not worry. Epis (or encyclias now or whatever lol) are much more tolerant than those uppety miltassias.

The pseudobulb and leaf shapes are similar to miltassias but you can see subtle differences and the encyclia leaves have thicker substance than miltassias.
The pseusobulbs also appear smoother compared to the oncidium alliance orchids.

Encyclias/epidendrum culture leans more towards cattleya conditions (bright, but not burning sunlight). The only difference is that encyclias need a slight drying out period when the pseudobulbs are mature.


~John

[Ron-NY]

many Encs need to dry out between waterings but this one, now Prosthechea, gets a more even watering and will not do will if dry for long periods.

[clintdawley]

These Enc. cochelata hybrids do like lots of water...and aren't fond of extremely hot temps (like here) or they dehydrate even if they are watered well. I would say keep the temps from 60-90 and give it catt light. These are easy orchids to grow and the first to bloom at the Kew gardens in London in the late 1800s!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

.... These are easy orchids to grow and the first to bloom at the Kew gardens in London in the late 1800s!

for a moment... I am going to Kew Gardens in March 2008!! I am teaching a study abroad class on Theatre, Architecture, and Ghosts of London in the spring semester. One of the places I have elected to go is to Kew! I am excited to see the giant glass houses and the orchids, but especially the Henry Moore exhibit!! Okay, back to growing suggestions for Epidendrums.

to the bright light comment. Ours grows next to our mini-catts and blooms regularly for us. We fertilize it along with everything in the gh on the same schedule. It is potted in bark and drains well.

Cheers,
BD

[meghanize]

Great to hear! I have an encyclia bag baby myself that I stuck in a windowsill with my phal seedlings. It's gotten substantially larger in the past few months, so it seems happy. To be honest I haven't really fussed over it -- I water/feed it when I water my phals.

The Green Hornet blooms are just awesome.

[sand_tiger86]

Mine came pretty ragged and sunburnt. I'm hoping that it will develop new growths soon enough though and look prettier Does anyone know if they spike from sheaths?

[pavel]

Kelly, Assuming it follows its Prosthechea parentage, it will form a small sheath at the top of the pb between the two leaves.

If the leaves of the new growths -- when it gets to that point -- are crinkled, then it is not staying moist enough.

[mtequine]

(BD-Ghosts of England...COOL!)

My Prosthechea has been in S/H for a year now, I water before the resevoir dries and it's STILL not happy. Crinkled leaves, etc. But, it does have several new growths coming...maybe it will finally be happier. I moved it to a bright south/west window out of the brighter (hotter) south window.

*shrug*

[poetiscariot]

What size do these get to? Are the plants any smaller than the cochleata parent, or about the same size?