Encyclia cordigera

Encyclia cordigera

Common Name: Large-lipped Encyclia

Native to: Columbia and Venezuela north throughout Central America. Encyclia cordigera grows in dense scrub and tropical rain forests and is adaptable to many habitats. It usually is found between sea level and 900 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Medium. Encyclia cordigera has round, tightly clustered pseudobulbs that produce 3 long, narrow leaves.

Flower Size: 3 inches (7.5 cm)

Flower Description: Encyclia cordigera produces few to several flowers on a 24 inch (60 cm) inflorescence. The petals and sepals are olive-green or brown and the lip is broad and brightly colored. Lips range in color from magenta to purple to violet. There is an 'alba' form available with a green lip and a 'semi-alba' which is white with a colored lip. The flower spike often starts growing from mature pseudobulbs as soon as new growth begins.

Bloom Season: Winter to Spring

Growing Temperature: Warm, Intermediate

Additional Information: Like many other members of the Encyclia genus, grow mounted on cork or tree fern mounts or in well-drained slatted baskets. Easy to grow and widely available and sometimes used to create colorful and shapely hybrids. Keep on the dry side in the winter in order to prevent rot. Water and fertilize generously during periods of active growth. There are many cultivars and different color forms available from commercial orchid growers.

Synonyms: Cymbidium cordigerum; Encyclia atropurpurea var. leucantha; Encyclia atropurpurea var. rhodoglossa; Encyclia atropurpurea var.rosea; Encyclia cordigera var. rosea; Encyclia doeringii; Encyclia duboisiana; Encyclia macrochila; Epidendrum atropurpureum var. laciniatum; Epidendrum atropurpureum var. lionetianum; Epidendrum atropurpureum var. longilabre; Epidendrum atropurpureum var. roseum; Epidendrum cordigerum; Epidendrum doeringii; Epidendrum duboisianum; Epidendrum longipetalum; Epidendrum