Encyclia issues... - Orchid Board

justintimedc · #1 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 07:55 AM

I purchased a beautiful Encyclia, my first one, last spring. It was in spike, and had 4-5 nice fat pseudobulbs. It bloomed and bloomed, for a looooong time, and looked great that whole time. But now that the blooms are gone, and it's growing actively (has a very nice new growth that is growing fast), the pseudobulbs are starting to shrivel. It's in a large, 8" plastic pot, with a nice bark/charcoal/pumice rock mixture, that seems to be in good shape. Since it's a catt alliance plant, I have been trying to error on the side of letting it dry out between waterings, thinking that the shriveling bulbs might be a result of me overwatering it, and losing some roots. But it continues to grow like crazy, and is still slowly shriveling!

So....are these things perhaps needing more moisture than most catts? Should I be watering it a couple of times a week while it grows? I am currently watering it only once a week. Or am I missing something else entirely? I have never attempted Encyclia before, and am relatively new to the catts, just in the last couple of years have I ventured into these VERY PICKY plants.

But they are worth it. Oh, by the way, this plant smelled sooooooo good all day long, for weeks!!! Here is a not very good picture of it.

littlefrog · #2 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 09:17 AM

I don't know exactly what species you have (assuming it is a species), but for mine in that group, I grow them mounted. They do really well mounted, in fact I got a CCM on an Encyclia atrorubens last fall. The plant in question has been mounted since I received it 10 or so years ago, even when I was growing in windowsills and under lights.

I probably throw water at it every day in the summer, and three or four times a week in the winter.

cb977 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 09:39 AM

Justin, here's a pic of my Encyclia Hereford Jewel...beautiful. I have 3 encyclia and they are all planted in bark and love watering. With my growing them outside in the Florida heat, they get watered probably every third day or so. All 3 have bloomed more than once in the year that I have them, my Enc cochleata 'John has had continuous blooms for a few months now, at the moment there are 6 or 7 blooms

I love these plants!

Sandra Billeter · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 02:15 PM

As the plant ages and new p-bulbs form, the older ones will start to shrivel and I think that is normal. However, if all of them are shrivelling, I would guess they aren't getting enough water. In our experience, Encyclias don't want to dry out between waterings and we are hitting ours with some water every other day. If you're getting new growth and if it blooms again, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Sandra in South Carolina

Oscarman · #5 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 07:20 PM

Great information to read. I have an Encyclia cordigera that I got bare root and it had a small hiccup in it's growth while getting re-established. It seems to be doing well in coco husk chips, but I was worried because some of the pseudobulbs were starting to wrinkle up and I knew it had enough water. Thanks.

fisx · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2007, 03:00 PM

I treat my Encyclias exactly like my species Catts. Once a week watering probably isn't frequent enough for an Encyclia potted in the medium you describe. You are correct: as with all epiphytic orchids Encyclias need to dry out in between waterings, but they also need copious water during their active growing period. I water my potted Encyclias about every three days in the summer [my medium is similar to yours] and cut back to once a week or so from Nov. until May. My mounted plants are watered daily in the summer.They like fertilizer. I use MSU Greencare for R.O. water at 150 ppm N.

Ross · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2007, 03:07 PM

My E. tampensis are both mounted and potted (I have 3) and the mounted get daily watering with MSU all year and the potted (plastic pot) gets anywhere from every 3rd day to every 5th day depending on season.

fisx · #8 (**permalink**) 11-10-2007, 03:19 PM

I meant to add that I am always intrigued when another grower says "VERY PICKY, or easy to grow". Orchids that I find 'picky' other growers say are easy as a coleus, and orchids that grow like weeds for me [most Encyclias] others find difficult.

Ross · #9 (**permalink**) 11-10-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisx

I meant to add that I am always intrigued when another grower says "VERY PICKY, or easy to grow". Orchids that I find 'picky' other growers say are easy as a coleus, and orchids that grow like weeds for me [most Encyclias] others find difficult.

My thoughts, exactly, except for Dendrobiums (Phalenopsis types)