EPIDENDRUM CULTURE

Temperature & Light:  These orchids will grow will in full sun in planter beds or pots with excellent drainage. Some hybrids need partial shade, especially during the noon hours.

Humidity & Air Movement: Most orchids benefit during the growing season from relative humidity. Watering the area around the plants both  morning and night is the best method to achieve this. Good air movement is very beneficial to most orchids, including epis.

Nutrition & Watering: All orchids will thrive and grow far more rapidly if fertilizer is regularly applied, both to the leaves as well as the roots. Using water soluble fertilizers, such as Hyponex, Miracle Grow, or other orchid fertilizers at least twice a month will produce some remarkable plants and flowers. Slow release fertilizers should be used on the media around the roots.

Water orchids heavy and let it dry considerably before watering again. Never let orchids stand in a container of water at any time. Orchids are air plants and do not like to have their roots kept in water. It is better to keep it on the dry side.

Media & Compost: Orchids are relatively versital plants and will tolerate a wide variety of growing media. We like to use a mixture of fir bark, #3 perlite, fine charcoal chunks, and compost, creating a very porous medium. Some growers may use only a mixture of fir bark and perlite.

Pest & Disease: Healthy orchids are far more resistant to pest and diseases than weak plants. Therefore, good cultivation methods are essential if such problems are to be kept to a minimum.

Epi's like other orchids are susceptible to a variety of pests, such as aphids, mealy bugs, and scales, and to various bacterial and fungal diseases if the condition warrants it. Most insects can be controlled by using 70% Rubbing Alcohol directly on the insects.

Epidendrum is a wide-spread genus of about one thousand species. They are easy to grow, and flower profusely, with many brightly colored flowers all year round. The flowers vary from one-fourth inch to over three inches.

They grow wild in tropical and subtropical America, from Florida to Brazil. These little jewels can be some of the most rewarding of all orchids. Here in Southern California they will survive outside with very little effort, but should be brought inside to a protected area in near frost conditions.

The genus is closely related to the Cattleyas.

Epidendrum Potting Mix

9 parts Potting mix

 (Special Blend Potting soil)

3 parts Charcoal

4 parts Fir Bark (Fine)

9 parts Sponge Rok (Perlite #3 or #4)

Fertilizer: Spray on water soluble fertilizer (Hyponex, MiracleGrow or Orchid fertilizer 1/2 strength) on the leaves,  with sprayer.