Epidendrum coronatum

Also known as: The Crown or Epidendrum benignum Epidendrum compositum Epidendrum amazonicum Epidendrum moyobambae Epidendrum sulphuroleucum Epidendrum subpatens in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Amazonas - Brazil Amazonas - Colombia Amazonas - Peru Baja California Sur - Mexico Departamento de Narino - Colombia Departamento de Tolima - Colombia Departamento del Huila - Colombia Departamento del Valle del Cauca - Colombia Ecuador Loreto - Peru Mato Grosso do Sul - Brazil Nicaragua Panama Provincia de Cartago - Costa Rica Sao Paulo - Brazil

General Information

The Crown is a large warm to hot growing epiphytic or lithophytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica.

Plant Description

Grows to 80cm. Each new growth has numerous leathery elliptic, lance shaped leaves that grow to 1.6-16cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 1-80cm

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Medium
• Bark
• Treefern
• Spaghnum Moss

Care Notes

These orchids like to be watered regulary, especially during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered daily or even many times a day.

These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.

Climate

Grows at low to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 81mm to 244mm per day, heaviest in May and lightest in January. Humidity ranges from 77% to 89%, highest in June and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 19C to 33C, highest in February (22C to 33C) and lowest in September (19C to 31C).

Watering

These orchids prefer a wet-dry cycle between waterings, they should be watered frequently but only when the moisture is approaching dryness, where the pot feels light and/or the media looks dry. Keep an eye on mounted orchids in warm weather as they may dehydrate quickly.

Keep moisture levels up during hot weather as the plant is prone to dehydration

Fertiliser

Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.

Use balanced fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a high Nitrogen fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer.

Potting

These plants are quite forgiving and will do well repotted ever 2-3 years. The mix should be coarse, well draining, and allow space for air to move and for roots to grow. 

Alternatively, these plants will also do well mounted to tree fern or cork slabs, or mounted to trees.

Best time for repotting or mounting the orchids is the end of winter when new growths start to appear. Avoid repotting during hot weather,

This plant does very well in baskets or suspended pots This plant does well mounted. Repotting is best done annually.