My 21st Orchid, Encyclia Alata

**sandra** · #1 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 10:18 PM

Just bought myself a present this afternoon. Rainy days need pick-me-ups. Never had one of these and know nothing yet about them. Any information and advice is greatly appreciated!

ENCYCLIA ALATA MOTHERS DAY BLOOMER

fred · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 10:56 PM

http://www.orchids.mu/Species/Encyclia/index.html

http://www.orchidculture.com/COD/FREE/FS238.html

http://www.encyclias.org/

I think we will hope that kevin see this thread as all the info i have found shows that Encycilias have the same culture as Catt.s

**sandra** · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fred

I think we will hope that kevin see this thread as all the info i have found shows that Encycilias have the same culture as Catt.s

..........that is if Kevin ever talks to me again...lol

P.S. Kevin, it's Fred's fault!

fred · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 11:41 PM

he will blame you sandra its all your FAULT hehehehehe

run for the hills

kmarch · #5 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 01:22 AM

Kevin did see this thread, Kevin is still talking to everyone, Kevin did know that Encyclia culture is pretty much the same as Catt. culture, and, Kevin is elated for the alata because he once grew it back in the US and it was one of his favorite orchids at the time.

Really though, I love Encyclias, and have grown many of them over the years. They're one of my 3-5 favorite genera. Enc. alata is one of my favorites of the favorite because of the beautiful flowers, graceful, almost ikibana-like inflorescence habit, and the fragrance!

**Vivienne** · #6 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 08:44 AM

LOL - don't let them fool you... it's Kevin's fault!!

Sandra - congrats on the new baby - it's gorgeous!!!!! You sure needed a treatment after last week and all that rain.

chefatplay · #7 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 08:51 AM

Sandra, you little trouble maker, you!!!

That orchid is beautiful. And to think you purchased on of Kevin's favorites.

DO YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT KEVIN THAN WE THINK??????

I don't have any Catts. A little afraid of them, but beauty and fragrance, I might get brave. I can tell you didn't get that at Publix.

Tobi · #8 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 10:29 AM

Absolutely gorgeous Sandra. What does the fragrance smell like?

**sandra** · #9 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 10:36 AM

No geeks, this isn't a photo of my orchid. This is a photo of what it will look like! It'll be another year before it starts producing flower stems. I mislead you all....I didn't mean to.....I'm a baaaaaaaad girl!

kel80 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 10:55 AM

Very, very pretty. Congrats on the new addition.

fred · #11 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 10:55 AM

Quote=sandra]I mislead you all....I didn't mean to.....I'm a baaaaaaaad girl!

you are a naughty naughty

you need to repent you bad girl

off you go to the orchid doctor

snowballsarebad · #12 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 12:05 PM

I really like Encyclias. I bought two at the Grand Valley OS earlier this year, fragrans and cochleata. They are VERY free-growing. The fragrans put out 6 new growths, and the cochleata at least two, and it looks like it might be working on more. They're still probably quite a way from flowering, but I don't mind, because they are just so easy for me to grow! Mine are in little 2 inch pots, and they like HEAPS of water it seems.
I've been eyeing up Enc. alata for a while now, it's one of the next orchids I want to buy. Might be a while though, there's a couple ahead of it on my wish list, and I'm running out of room! Good luck with it! Oh, and I would love to see a pic of it!

**sandra** · #13 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowballsarebad

Oh, and I would love to see a pic of it!

I've read they require frequent watering too, probably the big difference between them and catts. By your request, here's mine in all its' glory.

**brookn** · #14 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 03:26 PM

That is a beautiful plant. Congrats. You must confess your sins to the orchid doctor it is good for the soul, right Fred? (We are naughty also Sandra lol)

**sandra** · #15 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brookn

That is a beautiful plant. Congrats. You must confess your sins to the orchid doctor it is good for the soul, right Fred? (We are naughty also Sandra lol)

Brook, when it comes to sins, I plead the 5th!!!!!

**brookn** · #16 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 04:41 PM

I try to but keep gettin caught red-handed. Hee hee

Ellen · #17 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 05:15 PM

Sandra,

That's a nice looking plant! And you're right, encyclias are water hogs. It seems they can't get enough. I've got an Encyclia alata that's about to bloom. The spike's about 2 feet tall and the buds are about to pop any day. The plant itself is not that much bigger than yours, and it's in a smaller pot. With luck, yours may bloom this year. The fragrance is kind of like a mixture of vanilla and baby powder.

prisana · #18 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 06:43 PM

That's a nice looking plant , Sandra...congrats on your new addition.

**sandra** · #19 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 06:51 PM

ELLEN: Please, please, please.......would you post a photo of your encyclia alata for me to have a look at? Any information you can pass on regarding culture, I'm all ears but would really like to see your plant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellen

Sandra,

That's a nice looking plant! And you're right, encyclias are water hogs. It seems they can't get enough. I've got an Encyclia alata that's about to bloom. The spike's about 2 feet tall and the buds are about to pop any day. The plant itself is not that much bigger than yours, and it's in a smaller pot. With luck, yours may bloom this year. The fragrance is kind of like a mixture of vanilla and baby powder.

fred · #20 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 07:15 PM

I think if sandra goes to the orchid doctor to confess the poor doctor will die of old age. hehehe

Right Sandra