Euchile citrina

[xristie9]

I bought this little lady this summer, was always my most desired orchid. I hope she will bloom for me one. But she has very little roots. What do you thinh, does she look healthy?

Euchile /encyclia/ citrina

[RobS]

The new growths looks good. The backbulbs seem a bit dried in not sure if this is easy to solve. Normally I'd say give a higher humidity but Euchile citrina doesn't like that.

[smweaver]

Your plant looks healthy to me. This species, in my experience, does not produce a lot of roots. While I would agree with Rob that Euchile citrina isn't known for being a species that appreciates high humidity levels, the plants I have grown have done very well in the hot and humid summers where I live (daytime temperatures of 33 C and higher are normal here, along with humidity levels between 80 and 95%--neither of which, according to the literature, Euchile citrina is supposed to prefer). If you can supply a lot of moisture during the growing season (watering the plant every day shouldn't hurt it since you have it mounted), followed by a cool-to-cold, dry winter rest, this one should do fine for you. Good luck with your plant.

Steve

[RobS]

I can imagine that the humidity is indeed more an issue during the winter period with cooler temperatures. Also outside or in a greenhouse should make a huge difference.

[xristie9]

Thanks for advice
I think it should be ok, I don´t want to overwater it, it isn´t winter here yet but there were some temperatures down to 2C in the morning. But it is warmer a little bit these days. So I water it once in 3-4days.

[xristie9]

hello, I added to the mount a lot of spagnum in autumn... and the citria started to grow like wild... has lot of wonderfull roots and the youngest pseudobulb is round and big... I water it once a week, the winter here started so I was wondering if I should stop watering it for some months to give it a dry rest or schould I wait for her decide when she stops groving?

[RobS]

When I added sphagnum to my plant the shoot rotted. So I'd be carefull with that.

[xristie9]

It does dry out very quickly, the sphagnum is not compressed, it is pneumatic... and the air movement is good...

but thanks, I will check it more often...

[RobS]

Of course it's depending on you growing conditions if it works for you no need to change. It's just not something I'd advise in general.

[james mickelso]

I have had a few of these and have had varying luck with them. I love the flower and the fragrance. But since moving the my new place at the beach here in So. Cal I have killed all of them but one. It is not in good shape. So I went to Andy's Orchids where they specialize in species mounted on cork, ect. He told me I didn't water nearly enough and said to put a little spagnum moss on it. I have done so and await the outcome. I'll let all know how it goes.