Epidendrum tridens

Epidendrum tridens

Common Name: Three-toothed Epidendrum
Native to: Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Surinam, French Guiana, Guyana. Epidendrum tridens is widespread and common. This species grows between 1500 and 2500 meters in elevation on trees.
Plant Size: Medium. Epidendrum tridens has reed-like stems with several leaves.
Flower Size: 2.75 to 3.5 inches (7-9 cm)
Flower Description: The white flowers of Epidendrum tridens are very similar to Epidendrum nocturnum and are fragrant at night.
Bloom Season: Spring
Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool
Additional Information: Grow Epidendrum tridens mounted on cork bark or tree fern or grow in a well-drained pot with coarse growing media. Like many widespread species, this one is adaptable to many different growing conditions. Easy to grow.
Synonyms: Amphiglottis nocturna var. latifolia, Epidendrum carpophorum, Epidendrum nocturnum var. latifolium, Epidendrum nocturnum var. tridens, Epidendrum nocturnum var. tumuc-humaciense, Epidendrum tridens var. briegeri, Epidendrum tumuc-humaciense, Epidendrum tunguraguae

Epidendrum hartii

Epidendrum hartii

Common Name: Hart's Epidendrum
Native to: Trinidad and northern South America. Epidendrum hartii prefers to grow on trees at higher elevations.
Plant Size: Medium.
Flower Size: Small.
Flower Description: Flowers are produced on terminal inflorescence that are relaxed or pendant. Each growth produces many flowers that bloom just beyond the leaves.
Bloom Season: Spring
Growing Temperature: Warm
Additional Information: Epidendrum hartii was first described to the scientific community in 1894. Grow mounted on cork bark to tree fern fiber plaques or in pots with good drainage. It does best mounted. Provide standard Cattleya orchid growing conditions.
Synonyms: None.

Epidendrum cristatum - Comb Epidendrum

Epidendrum cristatum

Epidendrum cristatum

Common Name: Comb Epidendrum
Native to: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Brazil and other parts of northern South America, Trinidad. Epidendrum cristatum grows on trees in tropical rain forests and piney woods below 2000 meters in elevation. Occasionally, Epidendrum cristatum grows as a terrestrial orchid on rocky slopes with good drainage. The species is widespread and adapts to many environments.
Plant Size: Large. Epidendrum cristatum produces tall, slender, leafy reed-like stems that grow to 36 inches (1 m) in height.
Flower Size: 2 inches (5 cm)
Flower Description: Flowers are produced on a 24 inch (60 cm) long, arching flower stem. Many large, fragrant flowers are produced and all the flowers open about the same time.
Bloom Season: Late Winter to Summer
Growing Temperature: Warm to Cool
Additional Information: Epidendrum cristatum is a vigorous grower and adapts easily to cultivation. Grow mounted on a substantial tree branch in warm gardens or grow in large, well-drained pots in a coarse, open growing media. This species need even, regular water and applications of liquid fertilizer throughout the year.
Synonyms: Epidendrum alexandri, Epidendrum bathyschistum, Epidendrum calliferum, Epidendrum hexadactylum, Epidendrum longovarium, Epidendrum millei, Epidendrum rantierium, Epidendrum tigrinum, Epidendrum validum

Epidendrum coronatum - Crown-Like Epidendrum

Epidendrum coronatum

Common Name: Crown-Like Epidendrum

Native to: Trinidad and Nicaragua south to Venezuela and Peru. Epidendrum coronatum grows on tree branched and tree trunks and even the occasional rock outcropping in moist mountainous forests between 100 and 1500 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Large. Epidendrum coronatum is a tall reed-stem type Epidendrum that has upright stems with many leaves.

Flower Size: 1.75 inches (4 cm)

Flower Description: The colorful flowers of Epidendrum coronatum are produced on an arching flower stem that emerges from the top of mature stems.

Bloom Season: Winter to Spring

Growing Temperature: Cool to Warm

Additional Information:  Epidendrum coronatum is an attractive and robust member of the genus that produces ample colorful flowers. Grow in pots with a coarse, high-quality orchid mix. Provide even moisture and fertilizer throughout the year.

Synonyms: Epidendrum amazonicum, Epidendrum benignum, Epidendrum compositum, Epidendrum moyobambae, Epidendrum subpatens, Epidendrum sulphuroleucum

Epidendrum compressum - Compressed Epidendrum

Epidendrum compressum

Common Name: Compressed Epidendrum

Native to: Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Trinidad. Epidendrum compressum grows on trees in wet mountainous forests. It's habitat ranges from 110 meters to 1700 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Small. Compact plants of Epidendrum compressum have fleshy stems with up to four leaves.

Flower Size: 0.25 inches (1 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers of Epidendrum compressum are small and bloom on an arching flower stem that grows up to 16 inches (40 cm) long.

Bloom Season: Winter to Early Spring

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: Grow Epidendrum compressum mounted on cork or tree fern or in a pot with coarse open media. Provide warmth, humidity, and constant moisture and nutrition throughout the year. The species was first described to the scientific community in 1864.

Synonyms: Epidendrum guentherianum, Epidendrum laxum, Epidendrum macrothyrsis, Epidendrum yatapuense, Minicolumna laxa, Minicolumna yatapuensis

Encyclia guatemalensis

Encyclia guatemalensis

Common Name: Guatemalan Encyclia

Native to: Mexico south to Nicaragua, Guatemala, Trinidad, and the northernmost part of South America. Encyclia guatemalensis is found growing in semi-deciduous forests, oak forests, and xeric scrub habitats between 100 and 1300 meters in elevation. This species prefers to grow on tree limbs.

Plant Size: Medium. Encyclia guatemalensis has egg-shaped pseudobulbs that have two or three tongue-shaped leaves.

Flower Size: 1.5 inches (3.75 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers are creamy white to brownish in color with a lighter colored lip. Mature pseudobulbs produce unbranched or branched infloresences that bear a few to many flowers. The flower stem grows to 24 inches (60 cm) long and is either upright or arching.

Bloom Season: Late Spring

Growing Temperature: Warm to Intermediate

Additional Information: Encyclia guatemalensis is closely related to Encyclia oncidioides. Grow mounted on cork bark, tree fern, or wood or in a pot with good drainage and an open potting media. Provide Cattleya growing conditions with additional warmth for better flowering. It is quite possible that this species is a synonym of Encyclia oncidioides or several other related Encyclia orchid species from the region.

Synonyms: Encyclia alata var. virella; Encyclia belizensis; Epidendrumm alatum var. viridiflorum; Epidendrum belizensis; Epidendrum guatemalensis

Schomburgkia undulata

Schomburgkia undulata

Common Name: Undulate Schomburgkia Orchid

Native to: Schomburgkia undulata is native to Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Venezuela. It is found growing near the Pacific coast on large trees or boulders in strong light between 600 and 1200 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Large. The tapered, shiny pseudobulbs of Schomburgkia undulata carry two or three rigid leaves. Schomburgkia undulata can grow to become a massive specimen with time.

Flower Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Flower Description: Twenty or so short-lived flowers are clustered at the end of a two to six foot long flower spike. The flowers of Schomburgkia undulata are unusually wavy and undulate. Usually fragrant.

Bloom Season: Fall to Spring

Growing Temperature: Intermediate to Warm

Additional Information: Grow Schomburgkia undulata in a slatted wood basket or mounted on driftwood or cork bark. Provide ample water when new growth begins and reduce watering when the pseudobulbs mature. Provide bright light (brighter than average Cattleya conditions).

Synonyms: Bletia excelsa; Bletia undulata; Cattleya undulata; Laelia undulata; Schomburgkia lueddemannii; Schomburgkia quesneliana; Schomburgkia violacea