Encyclia bracteata

I grow it outdoors, in LA, not far from the coast. It goes to 45 as a low in winter, no rest. It goes up to maybe 90 once in the summer. Let me know if you would like more info. I'm out of town for the San Francisco Show this next week.

 

Realize that this is an older thread but I had trouble with Encyclia bracteata when I grew it several years back. It slowly declined and ultimately died and I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong with it.

I later learned that it resents being allowed to completely dry out (once every so often briefly doesn't seem to hurt, but not all the time) so it must be potted or mounted and watered accordingly. The ambient humidity is surely a significant factor, too.

Many growers I"m told find that it succeeds nicely in a smalish plastic pot with sphagnum, but with the sphagnum not packed too tightly. (Leptotes likes to be in little pots, for similar reasons.)

BTW, don't cut the spikes off if they are still green because E. bracteata is a successive bloomer when it is happy. It also has an unusual though not unpleasant fragrance.

I've just been lucky to acquire a couple more plants and with this new info about its likes, etc., I am hoping to have better luck with them.

OK Hope this info helps!

Cheers!

Paul M.
Tampa, FL
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