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Orchid
jbw1984

Epidendrum Division

12 years ago

Hello everyone.

I am thinking about dividing my reed-stem epidendrum. (If what you see in the photo is not a reed-stem epidendrum, please tell me, because it's my only one and I have no way to be sure what it is other than Internet photos).

This guy has about 10 canes, and 3 shoots that are not quite yet canes. It bloomed steadily from February until about August, and recently shot up a new spike which is developing buds and will probably start flowering in a week or two. I keep it outside on my south-facing balcony near the coast in southern california. It gets partial-shade/partial direct sunlight from sunrise until mid-afternoon--its not fully direct-sunlight because the shade from the bannister.

I wanted to try to divide this plant. It seems to really like its environment and blooms a lot. I purchased it in a grocery store and have never seen another one.

Can anyone give me advice or point me at a source where I can figure out whether this plant is ready to be divided and, if so, how to do so? I don't know if I should just cut a cane that has roots growing off of it, or if I need to pull the plant at least partly out of the media and divide it below the surface. I also don't want to abort the spike, although this plant does not seem to stop blooming so finding a time when it is not growing flowers at some stage might be challenging, unless it goes dormant later in the winter.

Any advice is appreciated. The photos are one of the plant and one a close-up of the medium/roots.

Comments (7)

  • 12 years ago

    Here is a broader view.

  • 12 years ago

    Cannot see why you want to divide it unless you want to give away or sell one of the divisions.
    Is it one of the "better" flowered ones or a common garden variety type.
    Even in SCal "Spring" might be a better time to do the deed.
    Count back 4 or 5 growths from the newest growth and cut there.

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  • 12 years ago

    I want to divide it because I'd like to have multiple plants in separate pots next to one another.

    I'm not sure how to answer your second question. Because it was purchased in a grocery store with no label, I have no idea what kind it is. Based on Google (and I wish I had a photo of the flowers for you--I will in a couple of weeks), this one seems quite common.

    Because a lot of the canes have roots emerging on that cane (almost like a keiki?) I was thinking I might be able to get away with just cutting one of those canes. But I don't want to do something that is known to be ineffective.

  • 12 years ago

    It doesn't matter where you divide it. They are unkillable and easy to grow. My suggestion was merely to get the best result in getting a flower quickly on the new division.

    Here is a modern Hybrid.
    {{gwi:203598}}
    Here is one of the hybrids that you might see growing as a garden plant here. Some people collect different colours.
    {{gwi:203599}}

  • 12 years ago

    Thanks, arthurm. My plant looks most like your top picture. The one below is similar too, but the leaves look more fragile and the flowers have slightly thinner petals. (I actually can't tell if the pictures are of the same plant--they could well be.)

  • 12 years ago

    I am a southern California native and my advice to you is wait until early spring to divide it. If and/or when you are ready to divide it, you need to figure out if the plant is growing in more than one direction or, has more than one lead growth. Then, go back cane by cane and figure out where each half originates and use that information to divide the plant in half.

    For potting media, I would recommend fine (about 1/4 - 1/2" pieces) fir bark and put them in unglazed clay pots.

  • 12 years ago

    You could also cut the keikis with roots and pot them separately. Might take a few years to get flowers, but they will root easily. Your plant looks small and I see no reason to divide it. You could cut the keikies, pot those and leave the mother plant as it is. Stick the plant in a bigger pot and let it get bigger. You'll have more flowers and will look nice. The little ones can grow and you can give them at gifts or
    pot them together so you have another big plant...eventually.

    Jane

    {{gwi:203600}}

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