PlantFiles: Angel Orchid, Hyndy kuayna
Epidendrum secundum

This is a variable species from the coastal rainforests of Brazil, living as an epiphyte on trees, sometimes forming dense colonies.

It has a long stem with alternate, succulent leaves. The inflorescence is formed on the top, bearing several small, coloured flowers with a T shaped lip that is curved upwards. There are many varieties, cultivars and natural hybrids that makes the color range for these small flowers unbelievable. It bears around 6 flowers each time, and every time one falls off, a new one opens. New plantlets grow from the inflorescence stalk after the last flowers fade, and can be planted.

These plants need partial shade, moderate to high temperatures, high moisture and humidity. Use bark or fiber as medium, prefferably planting it on a real tree if possible.

I had a typical form, with pink petals and labellum (this one with a white spot and yellow callousities in the middle) that lasted until I suspended the watering. It started to dry out and never recovered. But until then, it bloomed constantly, and was one of my strongest orchids.