OK, I picked up my first epidendrums. One is labelled epi eagle
valley 'orange sherbet', and the other is not labelled (it is almost
identical to the eagle valley, but with pink flowers). But they're
from Cal Orchids (yes, I got them from Home Depot, but they were there
less than three days, and so had little opportunity to suffer at their
hands), so I should be able to find out what the unlabelled one is. I
found them by accident, because I went looking for clay pots (which,
alas, they didn't have in the right size). Rob's rules are right:
there's always room for more orchids!

They look a lot like my "evergreen" dendrobiums, except that the
flowers are much smaller (about half the size of those on my tiny
phals). What they lack in size, they make up for in dense clusters
having lots of flowers.

Now for the question. How do they compare with the dendrobiums in
terms of habit and care? Are they deciduous or evergreen? Do they
need a rest periodically, like my nobile type dendrobiums, or will
they just keep going with proper care (which, according to the
attached care sheet, looks similar to what I provide my phals)?

Thanks,

Ted

Caveat emptor: I don't know which kind of epi you have. I am assuming
it is somewhat the same as my Epi "Ballerina".

(Ted Byers) writes:
Now for the question. How do they compare with the dendrobiums in
terms of habit and care? Are they deciduous or evergreen? Do they

Evergreen if they are similar to mine.

need a rest periodically, like my nobile type dendrobiums, or will

Mine don't.

Mine will be happy with 1000 lux, and are described as similar to a
phal in culture needs. They now get 15klux without making a fuss. They
are very good growers, and can take low temperatures. The medium
doesn't seem to be very important - my three keikis are potted in SH
culture, and seem perfectly happy where they are. The flowers will
attract bugs in quantities, including pests.

When mine are unhappy, the leaves go limp and thin. They have a
tendency to produce keikis if you need to cut the flower stalks for
some reason, like pests having a feast.

The roots are 2.5-3mm thick, and grow in abundance. I didn't leave
enough room for root growth last year, I know that.

Their growth is high, especially with the flower stems. You should
make arrangements for something to support the stems, like a cut-off
support you can replace with the real thing. I haven't, and things are
starting to get interesting when watering-time comes. The big one is
how in excess of 80cms high from floor to flower. It was half that
when I bought it. I hope it has reached its maximum height now.

In short: I have found it very easy to make my specific hybrid happy.

Good luck.

Geir