Epicyclia Serena O'Neill

Epicyclia Serena O'Neill is a cross between Epicyclia Mabel Kanda and Encyclia cordigera.  Encyclia cordigera is a popular Encyclia species that is found in many Encyclia hybrids.  It is native is Southern Mexico and Central America.  Epicyclia Mabel Kanda is a cross between Encyclia cordigera and Epidendrum densiflorum.  Epidendrum densiflorum is native to Ecuardor.  So from this information one can tell that Epicyclia Serena O'Neil is about 3/4 Encyclia cordigera.  Epicyclia Serena O'Neil likes warm temperatures, but I have never had any problem with leaving it outdoors during the coldest of Miami winters. (never below freezing).   It also likes dapples sunlight or high indirect light.  I grow mine in a plastic basket filled with tree fern fiber.  Encyclias generally like to dry out well between watering and some of them like a winter rest in order to bloom well.  However, I have noticed with this particular hybrid that it is important to not deprived this orchid of water during the winter as much as other Encyclias.  I have an Encyclia Lee Ward that absolutely will not bloom unless it stays dry all winter long.  I always cut back on the watering of the Epicyclia Serena O'Neill during the winter months; however, if I let is dry as much as the Lee Ward, the pseudobulbs shrivel too much, very few new growths will initiate in the spring, and the blooms will be very poor.  The lesson is to cut back on water but not completely.  I have also found that during its blooming and growth stage that this hybrid likes quite a bit of water, more than many other Encyclia hybrids.  Good growing.  Enjoy.

Cattleya purpurata carnea

Cattleya purpurata is one of the finest of all cultivated orchids.  It has a wide range of colors and many named varieties.  It produces large flowers, generally, 6 to 8 inches across.  It is used in many Cattleya hybrids.  It is native to southern Brazil and is the state flower of Santa Catarina.  Those who do not grow orchids are very familiar with pictures of the actual blooms, but many times have never seen an orchid plant up close.  Above are pictures of my Cattleya purpurata carnea before it has bloomed.  I grow this outdoors under a Cabada Palm.  It is mounted inside a wooden basket with tree fern fiber as the media.  Cattleya purpurata has tall pseudobulbs and leaves. The pseudobulbs often grow as tall as 20 inches.  Notice the pale yellow color of the pseudobulbs and the pale green color of the leaves.  This orchid needs plenty of light in order to bloom.  I give it as much light as I can without burning the leaves.  If it does not get more light than a regular Cattleya it will not bloom.  The pale yellow color of the pseudobulbs and the pale green color of the leaves are signs that this plant is getting the right amount of light in order to bloom.  This orchid generally blooms in May and June.  This picture was taken May 22, 2012 and today is the first day that the buds have started to break out of the sheaths.  These pictures are for those who are not familiar with an orchid plant.  One can see the green buds just peeking out at the top of the sheaths in these pictures.  After this orchid blooms, one should give it a rest with little water.  When it starts to grow again, give it plenty of water.  Many times these orchids will start new growths in late summer although this particular one has some new pseudobulbs growing now.  The growths will be completed in January and February in the United States.  The buds will form in the sheaths after a very short rest period and bloom in May or June.  Below is the picture of the bloom that this plant had last year in May.  It was the first bloom that I had from this cutting.  The form was rather poor, but the color is typical of this variety of purpurata.  I am hoping for better blooms this year.

My Easter Orchid

All last summer I grew,
new green leads, bulbs everywhere.
The fungus attacked,
the sun was a little too hot,
I suffered a few black spots,
and some burnt places as well.
But I continued to grow,
bigger, greener, larger, stronger.
Then all my new bulbs started to show,
to show sheaths, signs of hope, peeping out.
In my sheaths, Creativity rules, and grounds my future.
But the air gets cool and the winter winds are dry.
All my sheaths turn brown and withered.
All I can do is rest.
But as the spring sun warms me up
my sheaths begin to swell, bigger and bigger.
And slowly, green buds split the tops of my sheaths.
Gently and carefully, more and more of my buds appear.
Widening, spreading, and finally opening
to a burst of rose-lavender beauty,
showing the fruit of my hope.
For every observer, please share my joy, my hope,
yes, even my life. May I be your Easter Orchid!