Epidendrum Thomas Ott

[nikv]

Hi!

I thought I'd share some photos of an Epidendrum that is currently blooming for me. This one is Epidendrum Thomas Ott, which is pseudepidendrum crossed with melanoporphyreum. The latter species is very similar to pseudoepidendrum in shape but has a purple lip. I purchased a compot of this cross from Tropical Orchid Farm in Maui a few years back and managed to grow five of them to flowering size. They all look pretty much alike. I tried my best with my little digi-cam to take photos. The auto-focus wasn't cooperating with me.

Close Up:

Entire inforescence:

Entire plant:

This plant is actually in a four-inch plastic pot growing in fine fir bark with a few styrofoam chips at the bottom. I placed it into an eight-inch ceramic pot for photography. I grow it in dappled light and water it once a week. The sun causes the leaves to darken up quite a bit. The under sides of each leaf are a very beautiful purple. This plant blooms at least once per year.

Thank you for looking at my thread.

Best Regards,
Nik

 

[Yoyo_Jo]

The pendulous flowers are cool. :clap:

 

[JeanLux]

interesting plant!!! and the flowers that consist of that 'great' lip and a bit around!!! I like them!! Jean

 

[goldenrose]

:clap: :clap: How unique! Another one for the weird & wonderful category!

 

[NYEric]

Very nice and the photos look fine. BTW is that 1 or 5? Thanx for posting.

 

[nikv]

Very nice and the photos look fine. BTW is that 1 or 5? Thanx for posting.

This is one plant. The other four aren't flowering right now. But their flowers are pretty much identical to these.

 

[biothanasis]

W O W!!!! These flowers are incredible!!!!! Fantastic colouration and very interesting shape!!!

 

[nikv]

Hi!

For those of you who are interested, here are some links to Jay Pfahl's Internect Encyclopedia for the two parent species.

http://orchidspecies.com/epipsuedoepidendrum.htm

http://orchidspecies.com/epimelanoporphreum.htm

Best Regards,
Nik

 

[SlipperFan]

I like the way the flowers "hang."

 

[biothanasis]

Do you know if there is someone in Europe selling this???? TY...

 

[nikv]

Do you know if there is someone in Europe selling this???? TY...

biothanasis,

I doubt that this exact cross is available right now. It was probably only made once and various orchid nurseries in the United States had them available a few years back. But i have seen other Epi. pseudoepidendrum crosses available on occasion. Check with your European sources. Please note that pseudoepidendrum tends to grow large. One of the other plants of Thomas Ott that I have in my greenhouse has stems that are over 30 inches tall (76cm). Look for the other parent to be smaller in order to keep the hybrid of a manageable size.

Best Regards,
Nik

 

[biothanasis]

Thank you so much for the info, Nik...!!! You are great!!!