ORCHID SPECIES CULTURE
Charles and Margaret Baker

Epigeneium lyonii (Ames) Summerhayes

AKA: Dendrobium acuminatum Lyon, D. lyonii Ames, Sarcopodium lyonii (Ames)
Rolfe, S. acuminatum var. lyonii (Ames) Kranzl., Katherinea acuminata var.
lyonii (Ames) A.D. Hawkes

ORIGIN/HABITAT: The Philippines. On Luzon Island, the plants grow in the
provinces of Bataan, Benquet, Kalinga-Apayao, Quezon, and Rizal at
elevations of 1968-3608 ft. (600-1100 m).

CLIMATE: Station # 98427, Manila, Luzon, Philippines, Lat. 14.5N, Long.
121.0E, at 74 ft. (23 m). Temperatures are calculated for an elevation of
3000 ft. (914 m), resulting in probable extremes of 91F (33C) and 48F
(9C).

N/HEMISPHERE    JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
F AVG MAX        76   78   81   83   83   81   78   77   78   78   77   76
F AVG MIN        59   59   61   63   65   65   65   65   65   64   62   60
DIURNAL RANGE    17   19   20   20   18   16   13   12   13   14   15   16
RAIN/INCHES     0.9  0.5  0.7  1.3  5.1 10.0 17.0 16.6 14.0  7.6  5.7  2.6
HUMIDITY/%       77   73   70   68   71   81   84   86   87   84   82   79
BLOOM SEASON                *    *   **    *   **    *
DAYS CLR @  8AM   6    9   14   14   10    3    2    1    1    6    7    6
DAYS CLR @  2PM   3    6   10   10    8    2    1    1    0    2    2    3
RAIN/MM          23   13   18   33  130  254  432  422  356  193  145   66
C AVG MAX      24.6 25.7 27.4 28.5 28.5 27.4 25.7 25.2 25.7 25.7 25.2 24.6
C AVG MIN      15.2 15.2 16.3 17.4 18.5 18.5 18.5 18.5 18.5 18.0 16.9 15.7
DIURNAL RANGE   9.4 10.5 11.1 11.1 10.0  8.9  7.2  6.7  7.2  7.7  8.3  8.9
S/HEMISPHERE    JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN

Cultural Recommendations:  
The following recommendations are based on averages in the habitat. They
may be used as a guide for newly acquired plants whose requirements are
unknown, or for plants that are not growing or flowering as well as they
should. Reports from growers are included when they indicate success with
conditions in cultivation that are outside the range found in the habitat.

LIGHT: 1800-2500 fc.

TEMPERATURE: Summer days average 77-81F (25-27C), and nights average 65F
(19C), with a diurnal range of 12-16F (7-9C). Spring is the warmest season
when days average 81-83F (27-29C), nights average 63-65F (17-19C), and the
diurnal range of 18-20F (10-11C) is larger than at any time of year.

HUMIDITY: 80-85% from summer through autumn, dropping to near 75% in
winter, and dropping even further to 68-71% in spring, just before the
start of the summer rainy season.

WATER: Rainfall is heavy from late spring into autumn. Plants should be
kept evenly moist while actively growing.

FERTILIZER: A balanced fertilizer, mixed at 1/4-1/2 recommended strength,
should be applied weekly during periods of active growth. A fertilizer
consisting of lower nitrogen and higher phosphate is recommended in
autumn. A higher phosphate level may increase blooming the next season and
encourages new growths to harden before winter. Pots should be leached
every third or fourth week to prevent salt buildup, especially when
fertilizer is being applied most heavily. Plants should first be watered
normally to dissolve any accumulated salts. An hour or so later, the
medium is flushed with water equal to about twice the volume of the pot.
Year-round leaching is critically important in areas with heavily
mineralized water.

REST PERIOD: Winter days average 76=78F (25-26C), and nights average
59-60F (15-16C), with a diurnal range of 16-19F (9-11C). Rainfall is low
for 4 months in winter, but the high humidity and nightly cooling results
in frequent and heavy deposits of dew. These conditions may be simulated
in cultivation by occasional early morning misting, with a light watering
given once every 2-3 weeks, especially when a period of bright sunny
weather is expected. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated. Both
water and fertilizer should be gradually increased in the spring.

GROWING MEDIA: Plants may be mounted on slabs of cork or tree-fern fiber
if humidity is high, and if water is applied at least daily during the
summer. However, plants are usually grown in pots or baskets using an
open, fast draining medium. Varying amounts of water-retaining additives
such as perlite or chopped sphagnum moss may be combined with a base
material of fine to medium sized fir bark or tree-fern fiber. Growers have
reported good success using a basket made from 1/4 in. (6 mm) mesh
hardware cloth lined with a layer of coconut fiber. Another popular medium
consists of chopped tree-fern fiber mixed with about 10% fine charcoal,
10% perlite or sponge rock, and 10% chopped sphagnum or Amazon orchid
moss. In typical Pacific Northwest growing conditions, with strong air
movement, this combination allows for a heavy hand with watering without
the medium becoming soggy or drying completely between waterings. The
tree-fern fiber does not break down as rapidly as fir bark, which means
repotting is not required as often. If the plant outgrows the basket, it
can be hauled out in mass and merely placed in a larger basked without
disturbing the roots. This can be an important consideration because these
plants do not like to be disturbed, and may sometimes sulk for a year or
so after being divided or repotted. When repotting is necessary, it is
best done only when a flush of new root growth is just starting to allow
the plant to become re-established as rapidly as possible.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES: N/A. 

Plant and Flower Information:

PLANT SIZE AND TYPE: A small to moderately sized sympodial epiphyte that
is usually 8-12 in. (22-33 cm) tall. 

PSEUDOBULBS: 2-3 in. (5-7 cm) long. The ovoid pseudobulbs are 4-angled and
minutely pitted when dry. 

LEAVES: 2 per growth. The bilobed leaves are 7-10 in. (17-25 cm) long,
oblong, and leathery. They arise from the top of each pseudobulb. 

INFLORESCENCE: 20 in. (50 cm) long. Inflorescences, which emerge from the
base of the pseudobulb, may be arching or pendant. 

FLOWERS: As many as 20, but usually 6-8 per inflorescence. The large
flowers are well spaced along the inflorescence. They are wide-spreading,
star-shaped, and fragrant. The blossoms are usually about 3 in. (7.5 cm)
across, but may be as large as 5 in. (12.5 cm). The blossoms are
purplish-red with a maroon lip.

HYBRIDIZING NOTES: 

REFERENCES: 

Bechtel, H., P. Cribb, and E. Launert. 1980. Manual of cultivated orchid
species. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.

Hawkes, A. D. 1987. Encyclopaedia of cultivated orchids. Faber and Faber,
London. 

Ames, 

Quismbing, E. A. 1981. The complete writings of Dr. Eduardo A. Quisumbing.
Eugenio Lòpez Foundation, Inc. Chronicle Building, Meralco Avenue, Pasig,
Metro Manila, Philippines. 


Copyright 1997, Charles O. Baker and Margaret L. Baker
Sheet version 546689

.........................................................................
Please remember that this sheet is for your use only, and though it was
provided free of charge, it may not be reproduced or retransmitted in
any way without permission.
.........................................................................

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 "Orchid Species Culture" Charles & Margaret Baker, Portland, Oregon USA

    Orchid Culture & Pollination site    http://www.orchidculture.com
                     
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