Epidendrum orchid cultivation

Epidendrum orchid is considered one of the many species from the orchid family. In the environment, found in the subtropics and tropics of South and North America. It is also grown as a houseplant.

Orchid Epidendrum

Botanical characteristic

General external characteristics of the plant:

• branched short rhizome – an aerial creeping shoot of all plant species;
• foliage is tough I am fat, close to succulents, arranged in pairs on thin stems, has the shape of a lancet with a pointed end or a wide-oval appearance with a concave shape similar to a boat or a scoop;
• inflorescences are formed by multiple flowers in the form of a ball, ear or brushes have a saturated color, can be from 1cm to 14cm in diameter.

Varieties of epidendrum grown at home:

• rooted – characterized by spherical inflorescences of bright red color;
• cross – blooms in red, orange , yellow and lilac;
• ciliary – has carpal aromatic green-yellow inflorescences;
• ivory – stands out with flowers of a shade of light ocher;
• crescent blooms with single flowers green-white color;
• Panamanian – is one of the novelties in horticulture; it has acute-petal flowers of lilac-pink color.

Climate requirements

Caring for the epidendrum at home involves creating a suitable microclimate for the plant.

Temperature

Prefer moderate to moderate warm with a daily temperature drop. The heat level in the daytime should be maintained within the range of 18-25 ° С, at night – 12-16 ° С.

The temperature difference within the range of more than 6 ° С prolongs the flowering period of the plant.

In the absence of the threat of sudden frosts, the flower is placed in the spring and summer – in the garden or on the balcony loggia.

Light

Requires good lighting throughout the year, but needs protection from direct sunlight. A suitable place is a windowsill in the west or east of the room.When the flower is located in the southern part of the apartment at noon, it requires shading from the sun.

It is not recommended to place the plant in the north, but this option is possible by providing additional lighting with fitolamps with a level of at least 6000 lx, prolonging daylight hours to 10 -12 hours, especially in autumn and winter.

Light for Epidendrum

Humidity

Does not require excessive humidity. The optimal mode is from 50 to 70%. To maintain this level, expanded clay is poured into the pan and a little liquid is poured into it. Twice a day, the foliage of the flower is moistened from the sprayer.

Water temperature for irrigation is 30-45 ° С. Water the flower by immersing the container for half an hour in a basin with water. Frequency of watering – as the bark dries, preventing its complete drying out.

Selection of soil mix and capacity

A suitable soil mixture for the plant includes pine bark, peat, sphagnum moss, charcoal. In this case, the pine bark acts as a block on which the rhizome and root system of the plant are attached, and sphagnum moss serves as protection against the rapid evaporation of moisture.

At home, containers for growing epidendrum are selected for each individual variety:

• large species are planted in pots,
• compact flowers are grown on blocks.

Fertilizer complexes intended for orchids are added to the soil every 2-3 weeks. Top dressing is done at the same time as watering.

Transplantation and reproduction

The epidendrum is transplanted every 3-4 years. In case of excessive acidification of the soil mixture or decomposition of the block do it earlier. The transplant period is at the end of the flowering stage.

The dormant period of the orchid is no epidendrum.

Reproduction is carried out taking into account the variety:

• growing on shoots by children,
• by separation of rhizomes,
• by rooting of the apical part, which has formed aerial roots.

When dividing the bush, it is required to leave on each part not less than 3 developed pseudobulbs or processes. In the process of reproduction, the children wait for the appearance of large roots and then cut off the baby from the mother flower.

Conclusion

In Russian floriculture, the epidendrum is not common and is preferred for cultivation by florists with experience in breeding and caring for them. For beginners with a capricious variety of orchids, niknut a number of problems.