Encyclia diota var atroubens

[BigSteve]

or
Encyclia diota

http://keycomm.co.uk/orchids/EncDiAt1.JPG

Flowers about 1 1/2" wide.

Spike about 60" high with around 65 flowers.
Has been in s/h for about 8 years (same pot same medium) , has flowered every year.Some times spike is bigger but this is about average.
Sorry about piccies but difficult to take piccies in growroom.

[Cjcorner]

Very nice spike there! Can you get a close up of one of the flowers? I don't think I've seen this ones' flowers before.

[BigSteve]

There is a link in the post.
Biggish piccie so linked it.

[stateless]

wow that is impressive

[sammywolffox]

Your plant was impressive but when I opened the link the bloom was magnificent. What an impressive Encyclia!

[zainal abidin]

So cool flower is it common to have spike more than 60" every time in bloom ?

[catttan]

I agree - that is a very impressive spike.

[BigSteve]

Thanks guys , what impresses me is the pseudo bulb that this spike came out of is smaller than my thumb !
In the cooler conditions of my spare bedroom the flowers last for months but in the grow room it will be a lot
shorter.
I have a encyclia alta which i have had for the same time as the diota , same conditions & it has spiked twice
both times just a small spike.The pseudo bulbs are much bigger & the spikes are supposed to be much longer as
well so decided to switch to my paph/phal mix(medium bark,sponge rock & charcoal).No spike though but it has
started a new pseudo bulb so maybe a GIANT spike in the spring/summer .

[pavel]

Such richly colored flowers!

[BigSteve]

Just an update , first flower dropped today so about 4 months in full flower.I have removed the spike as the pseudo bulbs are getting pretty shriveled.I will water it for a short time to replump them & then rest it.Basically no feed & water sparingly until new growth starts.