one epi question, one oncidium question...

[lissie0113]

Onc question-- Do oncidiums grow keikis? I have 2 that are potted together out on my porch, and one of the plants looks like its growing a keiki or something. it looks a pbulb shooting off sideways with roots coming off of it. is this just a new growth with aerial roots or a keiki?


Epi question ---last May i went to hawaii and one of the orchid seedlings i purchased was an epidendrum. i dont know exactly what type, thats all the tag said, even though the others i bought all had very specific names... but first had this epi in the 2 in pot it came in on a south facing window sill with the other seedlings i brough home (3 catts and a nobile den) it didnt seem to be very happy there, was getting too much sun i think, so i mounted it on a piece of florida oak, kept the ball of sphag around the roots and hung it in a south facing window with an overhang, so it gets much less sun than before. the sphag ball dries out very quickly and i water it every other day. it seems to be doing better with less sun, but still doesnt seem quite happy. the problem is i dont know what to do to make it happier. what kind of conditions do epi's like? also, it seems to have several keikis growiing off of it, and has for awhile. i first thought these were just arial roots ( and it does have some of those) but the more i leanr about orchids i know it does have several keikis too. but it is so small, only about 7 inches tall, that i am afraid to cut off any parts of this plant, or it will look so bare! and it is yet to flower also. i have basicaly just been watering it and not much else, but i think it could be alot happier i just dont know what to do! please help!

[rodcuda]

Need to see some pictures of the epi to get a better idea of what it might need.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by lissie0113

Onc question-- Do oncidiums grow keikis?

Oncidiums don't usually keiki. I have heard of some oddities, like growing a new shoot form the top of the posudobulb (which I suppose would be a keiki) but it's unusual. If you can post a pic we can better identify what's going on for you.

Originally Posted by lissie0113

Epi question ... i dont know what to do to make it happier. what kind of conditions do epi's like?

Epidendrims are members of the Cattleya Alliance and should do well given general Cattleya care. Check out the cattleya culture sheet here on at AOS | Home. After you've read it let us know if you have any questions.

Cheers!

[lissie0113]

thanks kevin. ill have to work on the pictures. my computer is broken, which is all i have configured for my digital camera. hopefully ill get it back soon and ill be up and running again.

so as far as the onc... what u described is what it looks like to me. what do u do in those types of odd cases? can u cut it off and treat it like a keiki?

[tansyflower]

I have a brassia (bracchiata or something similar) that is growing upwards out of the pot. The latest growth has roots going down (probably nearly two inches) into the pot, while 5 bulbs back, the bulb is sort of half buried. Looks really healthy, as well as giving off this bulb, last bulb is also putting out another...

Epis are usually pretty easy. I doubt they are getting too much sun. Maybe you are fussing too much? In Aus, many grow a bit like weeds (no, actually like weeds). They are called crucifix orchids (google it). You see big tangly patches in people's yards, full sun, full neglect.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by lissie0113

so as far as the onc... what u described is what it looks like to me. what do u do in those types of odd cases? can u cut it off and treat it like a keiki?

I don't think they did anything; I think they just let them go. It's been a while though I'm not sure I'm remembering correctly.