Encyclia - the name describing the genus derives from the Greek enkykleomai ("to encircle"), referring to the lateral lobes on the lip part of the flower which encircle the column. There is about 150 species in this easily recognizable genus, of which a great many have flowers with the lip uppermost.
A lot of them are small - or compact growing plants that will eventually grow into good-sized specimens.
Generally originating from Mexico, all of the genus are evergreen, epiphytic plants. Although very popular and widely grown all around the world, there was little hybridizing efforts to create crosses within the genus, rather the efforts were made to create crosses with Cattleyas or Epidendrums.
Usually the flowers come in pale white-ish, violet or green colour which come with a very strong, aromatic fragrance. However there are some species in example Encyclia Vitellina - the only species with bright vermilion flowers and beautiful blue-ish foliage with a silver tint to it.
Most of the species produce good-looking plants with shiny, elongated pseudobulbs and a pair of mid-green leaves (with some colour exceptions as described above). The flowers come on short to medium, upright flower spikes between the leaves. Further species, such as Encyclia nemorale, produces hard, rounded pseudobulbs with long stiffened leaves.
Encyclias make attractive orchids to grow indoors, they are also ideal for beginners, producing their flowers freely in their season. Most have a decided rest in the winter.
Encyclias are generally on the cool-growing side, and can be grown both in pots and hanging baskets with a mixture of bark compost. Furthermore the plants like a good watering and occasional spraying, especially when in active growth. Try to refrain from it though when the orchid is in bloom, to avoid fungal infection on the flowers.
In winter season cut the watering by half, or just enough to keep the pseudobulbs plum.
These plants can be found mostly in Nurseries and Garden centres, but look also on-line in places like RayCreek or Orchideen-Wischmann.
A lot of them are small - or compact growing plants that will eventually grow into good-sized specimens.
Generally originating from Mexico, all of the genus are evergreen, epiphytic plants. Although very popular and widely grown all around the world, there was little hybridizing efforts to create crosses within the genus, rather the efforts were made to create crosses with Cattleyas or Epidendrums.
Usually the flowers come in pale white-ish, violet or green colour which come with a very strong, aromatic fragrance. However there are some species in example Encyclia Vitellina - the only species with bright vermilion flowers and beautiful blue-ish foliage with a silver tint to it.
Most of the species produce good-looking plants with shiny, elongated pseudobulbs and a pair of mid-green leaves (with some colour exceptions as described above). The flowers come on short to medium, upright flower spikes between the leaves. Further species, such as Encyclia nemorale, produces hard, rounded pseudobulbs with long stiffened leaves.
Encyclias make attractive orchids to grow indoors, they are also ideal for beginners, producing their flowers freely in their season. Most have a decided rest in the winter.
Encyclias are generally on the cool-growing side, and can be grown both in pots and hanging baskets with a mixture of bark compost. Furthermore the plants like a good watering and occasional spraying, especially when in active growth. Try to refrain from it though when the orchid is in bloom, to avoid fungal infection on the flowers.
In winter season cut the watering by half, or just enough to keep the pseudobulbs plum.
These plants can be found mostly in Nurseries and Garden centres, but look also on-line in places like RayCreek or Orchideen-Wischmann.
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Some pictures presented in this article may not belong to me and are a property of their respectable owners.
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