Epidendrum difforme

Also known as: Umbelled or Different Epidendrum or Epidendrum arachnoideum Amphiglottis difformis Auliza difformis Epidendrum virens Epidendrum umbelliferum Neolehmannia difformis in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Chiapas - Mexico Departamento de Chimaltenango - Guatemala Departamento de Huehuetenango - Guatemala Departamento del Huila - Colombia Ecuador Guerrero - Mexico Honduras Oaxaca - Mexico Panama Peru Veracruz - Mexico

General Information

Umbelled or Different Epidendrum is a variable sized cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama, and Peru.

Plant Description

Grows to 50cm. Each new growth has numerous leathery thick, rigid, elliptic, lance shaped, oblong shaped leaves that grow to 1.3-11cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 30-50cm

Flowers

Numerous long lasting, fragrant blossoms appear

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Medium
• Bark
• Treefern
• Spaghnum Moss

Care Notes

These orchids like to be kept on the dry side, but may need to be watered daily during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered regularly.

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.

Fragrant:

• IsFragrant

Climate

These orchids thrive in hot, steamy locations, living in low altitude jungle areas where they often receive heavy sporadic rainfall, warm humid winds, and sunlight filtered year round by the surrounding growth. 

They can survive, but will often struggle if the humid, warm conditions are not met - roots will die back and leaves will thin out, spikes and buds can be aborted if conditions change too frequently during flowering. They can tolerate cooler or drier conditions temporarily, but extended exposure will seriously affect them.

They will grow best in the tropics, especially coastal areas where they receive ocean breezes, but can do well in a greenhouse, supplied that the humidity is kept high, temperature is not allowed to skyrocket and extra shade is provided during hot weather.

 

Grows at low to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 5mm to 175mm per day, heaviest in September and lightest in February. Humidity ranges from 63% to 81%, highest in October and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 14C to 29C, highest in April (18C to 29C) and lowest in January (14C to 24C).

Watering

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.