reed stem epi. ????

[eikon]

i was recently given a cutting from an epi.
i have no idea how to deal with it
he has some very healthy roots, but alot of them are half way up the reed.
should i pot it or mount in? should i do some 'air layering' at the base?

thanks,
jeff

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Pot it up to that lowest root in fine bark using a stake to hold it upright. Mist it every day until you have a new growth start at the bottom and the new growth puts roots into the mix. Keep the mix damp as these guys often put their roots into leaf litter on the ground. I am particularly fond of reedstemmed Epidendrums, but had to throw out just about everything I had due to a positive virus result. They are prone to viruse because aphids, a known vector for virus, particularly like the flowers, and because they grow and keiki so well, that sequential pieces are passed around add-infinitum, and sooner or later someone will be careless with pruning or other handling and transfer vius to the plant, and then send off many keikis from the deseased plant.

Now having virus in a garden plant is no particular problem (they will probably grow outdoors where you live as they will usually take a little frost), so long as you use proper techniques for your other orchids (sterilize tools for cutting, use new or sterilized pots, and avoid stabbing plants accidentally, especially with your finger nails). I have chosen not to have any virused plants in my greenhouse, as the close association is a threat to the other plants. I am now rebuilding my collection with plants recently grown from seed, mostly from Cal Orchids who specializes in reedstemmed Epis, and I test every plant I get. I still have a lot of the virused Epis to experiment with, but I keep them very well separated from my other orchids. Cynthia

[eikon]

cool, thanks.. i will stake it, but i think it will take a few weeks to get it to stand upright...

i gotta get out to cal orchids one of these days