Encyclia bractescens in bloom (mounted)
 

Endemic to Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala

I got this little guy last March, and mounted it at that time. Grown outdoors from about mid-spring thru about mid autumn. Seems to be a fairly easy going plant; moderately bright light, watered when dry. Purportedly fragrant, tho I have not detected any scent - perhaps due to only a few flowers, and/or not checking at the right time ;)

Thanks for looking :)

Very nice!

Lovely flower and color!

Very pretty.

Nice. I haven't mounted any Encyclias yet but my Brassavolas outperform the potted ones.

Beautiful. I think this the blooms are ethereal!

I have one of these and it isn't doing so well. What is it mounted on? Is that a Kool log? I'd love to hear more about how you are growing it, please....

Thanks everyone :)

Carrie - it's on a wood stick of uncertain origin ... it was given to me by the person I got the plant from, who is a big enthusiast for mounting orchids ;) It's from a non-coniferous street tree ;) She thought it might be ginkgo (which is supposedly a soft wood - this doesn't seem especially soft to me, but the color looks about right). The plant has not had objection to the mount, so, I guess time will tell if it holds up well.

I water well when the sphag is completely dry (daily much of the year for me). Over winter, the mount was set into a clay pot, so it could sit on a windowsill. The sphag would remain moist 2-3 days this way (along with lower temps), but I would spritz roots that have crept out beyond the sphag daily (even our winter humidity has been low with the drought).

Where I had this growing outdoors, it got several hours of morning sun in the summer (til noon). I don't think it requires that much sun, but it took it fine (tho did take on a reddish-purplish hue) ;)

IOSPE indicates warm to hot temps for this species, tho, while mine has taken hot daytime temps well (tho shaded by noon), inside in winter it's definitely gets more intermediate (even slightly cool) temps (I've seen it reported as an intermediate grower elsewhere).

I hope that helps :)

It's lovely.

I love the way it looks mounted!! I always have a hard time keeping mounted plants with enough water, they dry out on me and slowly die in winter.

Dear LovesPhals,
I've been experimenting with Kool Logs (purchased on line) to keep mounted more evenly moist. Only time will tell, but so far so good.