Epidendrum Lovely Valley

Epidendrum (eh-pee-DEN-drum) orchids are one of the earliest established genera of orchids with well over 1,000 different species. Some species are found growing at sea level, while others thrive in higher elevations up in the mountains.

1. Keep your Epidendrum orchid in the right planting media for success. These orchids rot and die in standing water, so use tall pots with drainage holes and a porous, airy potting medium like peat moss, gravel or wood chips. Change organic potting mediums once a year to keep them fresh and nutritious.

2. Temperature. Put Epidendrum orchids in north- or south-facing windows where they'll get soft, indirect light, or keep them in rooms with bright fluorescent or halogen lights. These plants will fail if they don't get enough light. They may sit in direct, bright light, but will do better with indirect light. Maintain temperatures between 15 and 27 degrees C for best growth.

3. Water Epidendrum orchids when they begin to dry, but not before. Check the potting media once a week and water the orchid with 1 to 2 inches of water only if the medium is dry. Don't get water on the orchid's leaves, as they will rot and fall off. These plants enjoy water more than many other orchids, but should never sit in standing water.
4. Fertilising. Epis are heavy feeders, so fertilize them regularly with ample amounts during active growing period (less in winter) for stronger and healthier stems, foliage and denser inflorescences. Any balanced liquid fertilizer or a time-release one is ideal. Also, provide sufficient light for robust growth and flowering. To maintain tidiness and encourage new basal growths that are strong and healthy, remove old flower spikes and stems. However, pruning these are not needed for species that continue flowering on old and new stems alike for several years. Stake plants if necessary. Repotting is generally not necessary but advisable to replace the potting media every 1-1.5 years or repot when the plant outgrow its pot. Usually, no serious pests or disease problems, though do watch out for scale, aphids and mealybugs.
5. Propagation. Easily propagated by division of pseudo bulbous stems or offsets (new canes) that emerge from underground stems with a sharp knife. Occasionally, some Epidendrum species may produce pups (or keikis, the Hawaiian term for babies) on old stems and flowering spikes. These can be detached and potted individually as new plants once their aerial roots are 5-10 cm long

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