GROWTH AND FLOWER DEVELOPMENT OF EPIDENDRUM IBAGUENSE ORCHID

Epidendrum ibaguense is an orchid naturally found in Brazil that can be commercially grown under full light in open fields and used as a cut flower. The full development of the inflorescence lasts about 32 days, when the terminal inflorescence is presented with at least 50% of opened flowers. The postharvest opening of buds was low, close to 7% for the commercially harvested inflorescences. The longevity of the inflorescence in a vase with distilled water ranged from six to seven days, by which at least 50% of the flowers abscised. This orchid had better vegetative and flowering growth during the cooler months of the year, with maximum production of stems in July, when the month average temperature was 17.3°C. Longer flowering stems were obtained during the months of July and August, reaching values above 40 cm. The inflorescence largest diameter was coincident with the highest number of flowers/inflorescence occurred throughout the month of May. Production of commercial flowering stems from October to March was negligible, since the inflorescence diameter and stem length were smaller compared to those obtained from the April to September growing season.