Care Tips for an Orchid Epidendrum

Climate Conditions

• You may believe that orchids are delicate flowers that require specific conditions to maintain their beautiful forms and colors. In truth, Epidendrum orchids are found around the globe in humid, tropical climates as well as drier, more moderately temperate conditions. The Epidendrum Radicans can even be found in higher altitude regions where cooler temperatures are common.

  Be sure to keep or plant your Epidendrum orchids in an area that allows light for part of the day and up to 60 percent shade. Orchids favor light that is consistent but not blistering. Epidendrum leaves can easily become damaged by the hot sun, so an indirect source of sunlight is best.

Nutrients for Balance

• Watering your orchid should be done daily to prevent dehydration and keep the orchid looking bright. Never allow the moisture level in the soil to go so low that it feels dry and dusty. The leaves and the stem should not ever turn yellowish or begin to wilt.

  Feeding your orchid the proper amount of nutrients is equally important. Your Epidendrum orchid may exhibit a dull coloring rather than a lush and vibrant one if nutrients are less than sufficient. All fertilizers are labeled with three numbers to represent the weight of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium within the fertilizer. These three nutrients contain the essentials that your orchid needs to build proteins and conduct photosynthesis.

  If you choose a nutrient rated 20-20-20, for example, you would use this fertilizer, preferably in liquid form, when watering. Fill half a teaspoon with the liquid fertilizer and mix with 1 gallon of water, then water your plants. The timetable for systematic feedings should always be maintained in accordance with label instructions.

  Depending on your climate, certain nutrient levels may need to be adjusted per temperature, light exposure and humidity. An orchid that receives little daily sunlight requires less nitrogen than one that receives a consistent amount of light.

Pruning Orchids

• The wonderful thing about an Epidendrum orchid is the ability it has to produce baby orchids, or "keikis," which in Hawaiian means "baby." You will not have to remove any part of the orchid unless it has died off, making it invaluable to the plant. Leave the spike from the blossom on the plant and it may produce more blooms or it may develop its very own roots. By growing these roots, the spike becomes a keiki and can be transplanted after 2 to 4 inches of root growth.