If you look forward to growing swarms of beautiful flowers consider the Encyclia which translates from the Greek word enkykleom and means “to encircle.” Also, Encyclia is the Latin name for the butterfly orchid.

The orchid has lateral lobes of its lip, which then encircles the column and offers arching yellow flower clusters that extend upwards from four leaves at the very bottom of its apex. However, hybrids have given us glorious colors like orange, green, brown or pink.

One of my favorites for its unusual splendor and lovely light scent from the bloom, it is native to Florida and the nearby Bahamas as well as Mexico and the West Indies. It is spread quite evenly in tropical American forest lowlands as well as altitudes of 1000 m. (3200 ft).The Encyclia is a genus of both epiphytic and lithophytic orchids and was originally a part of the Epidendrum genus. Separated by William Jackson Hooker in 1828 to stand on its own as a separate species, it is abbreviated in the trade as Encycl.

The orchid’s terminal leaves grow out of thick pseudobulbs and the blooms themselves come from an apical (energy providing) inflorescence. Pollinated by birds and bees using its eight pollinia, it blooms profusely and will last for years indoors when properly cared for. The Encyclia is a summer blooming outdoor plant grown on trees or on rocks, if there isn’t any danger of frost. However, most of us choose to grow them indoors where it is so much easier to manage their care and we see them more often. They do prefer to be potted or repotted when a new pseudobulb is beginning to grow.

The easiest method of potting the lovely Encyclia orchid is in potting medium which includes bark, rocks, charcoal or a mixture of these items. The mix allows the roots to dry out quickly when it is placed in clay pots or wooden boxes made for orchids that allow the air to circulate around the roots. Do place the plant so that it receives morning sun and a shaded afternoon. Although they love light, full hot sunlight can burn the leaves. Although they can tolerate a varied range of temperatures, from 50º to 75º F for good results, avoid lower temperatures.

Encyclias love to be misted with warm water every morning. They like humid air. This allows the water to evaporate quickly and reduces any chance of mold or mildew. They only need water about once or twice a week and it is OK to let the soil dry out a bit. If the weather is hot it’s easy to add another weekly watering. From spring to early fall, feed your orchids once a week. In the winter, they need food only once a month and half a dose will do. Follow the instructions that come with the plant. Usually the fertilizer will consists of a 20-20-20 inorganic fertilizer or a 30-10-10, non-urea based fertilizer if the potting mix is bark. Do inspect the plants for mealy bugs or scale underneath the leaves and on the stems. It’s easy to remove them with a soapy rag. Continue this procedure weekly until the orchid is completely pest-free.

Each of the species of the Encyclia orchid is more beautiful than the other. Flowers from the Encyclia ambigua are quite similar to that of Encyclia alata. Their flower stems are branched and reach up to five feet. These blooms smell like honey. They’ll grow mounted on cork bark or a tree fern or in a well-drained pot and will bloom from late spring to summer. If you provide the right conditions which includes average light and some humidity, a large specimen of these orchids are major conversation pieces.

There are a number of intergeneric hybrids that have resulted from working with the Encyclia. The Encyclia tampensis is commonly known as the “Butterfly Orchid” from the Florida peninsula, Cuba and the Bahamas. Its unusual beauty has proven to be perfect for hybridizing. It likes cool to warm temperatures and can easily be grown in medium fir bark with Perlite. It, too, prefers dryer periods between watering but bright light is recommended.

Get a visual tutorial about Encyclia Orchids from this great little video!

More about the Encyclia or Butterfly Orchid can be found right here:

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