These small jewels on a stem immediately caught my eye at the Pacific Orchid Exposition in San Francisco. To my delight, I found out that Epidendrum porpax (peperomia) is a very amenable grower in a range of conditions, and this orchid came home with us.
We now have four clones of Epidendrum porpax (peperomia). Two are colored forms, and two are album forms. The classification for all of these plants is somewhat questionable, and I am unclear how to apply the differentiation between Epidendrum porpax and Epidendrum peperomia to our orchids based upon the descriptions that I have read. Similarly, the album forms are an uncertain taxonomy. Each clone (coloratum and album) differs in the size and shape of its leaves; additionally, three are more succulent and another is thin and pointed. Likewise, the flowers range range in size as well. The first photos are the largest and richest colored clone in our collection, but it produces fewer flowers than the other coloratum form (last photo).
All of our Epidendrum porpax (peperomia) live in our cool-growing area, with 50F/10C night minimum temperatures in winter. Three are mounted and one is in a plastic basket with hydroton. They are vigorous, creeping orchids and well-adapted to central California conditions. I have see photographs of older specimens in our area that have fully covered a small log. Very impressive!
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