Looks big enough to bloom, and I think I agree with meg that it is getting enough light. Though I dunno about temps with this one. I don't grow this, but I grow cochleata and it doesn't bloom with any regular schedule as far as changing temps. Its in bloom most of the year, and blooms just when a growth matures, and I'd think that'd be passed on to this guy. There is a possibility that this is a dud clone since it IS grown from seed. Bad genetics. I'd also say that its also quite likely just a question of time. A year isn't that long to have a plant, and often can take over a year before its accimated to your environment enough to bloom for ya. It happens. I don't see the sheath with buds that granniek is talking about in that thread there, but thats really exciting news if it is there! :)

Thank you both. As far as how to get them to bloom. I haven't the foggiest. I can tell you the conditions they were under but as to if that is the right thing to do I don't know. I do know that some varieties have to reach a level of maturity before they bloom and outside of my strictum, none of the others (out of over a dozen varieties) have bloomed before this year. Now I am seeing them bloom one after another. I think I have seven, including the strictum that have bloomed or are about to bloom. First, I did have them in a heated greenhouse all winter. My aim was mostly to keep them over freezing, not to give them warmer growing conditions. I did not water them much but every time I did water them, I did with the addition of miracle grow until it got warm then I quit feeding them. I have also left them in the greenhouse (which it is VERY hot in there now) even after it got warm. Usually I move them directly outside as soon as it gets warm enough for them to stay out there and I haven't fed them through the winter, only in the Fall. Like I said though.. Not sure what combination of that actually made them bloom.

I started with an Epi 7 years ago when some one gave me a piece of E ackermanii. 3 years ago it made its first beautiful red flower which was noted but made no impact. 2 years ago it had about 25 flowers and got my attention. I bought a bunch of Epi cuttings at that time. This spring many of them were well established plants but only a very small percentage of them bloomed. This coming spring, according to Epi experts of the local Epi society, I should expect blooms from most plants. The by now huge Ackermannii produced a spectacular display of over 75 flowers this last spring. It would seem an unpruned plant needs at a minimum of 2, possibly 3 to 4 years to flower. I would not prune your plant, it needs to get a critical mass before it will flower, assuming other conditions are favorable. Having numerous small plants will not get you flowers, you need a big plant with several major leaves then it will bloom all by itself. I also grow numerous orchids which bloom at all different times of the year. It would be a major pain to tailor different fertilizer solutions to plants in various stages of dormancy, pre-blooming, post-blooming or in their growing cycle. Cymbidiums, Cattleyas or Dendrobiums bloom at differnt times and would need different solutions at various times of the year if you read what the experts say. That would drive me crazy so I fertilize everything with a balanced fertilizer all year round. The Epis are included in this routine and it does not seem to bother them. I would fertilize your plant all year round. Nick

Roselee's Epi is a E. strictum and mine is a E. oxipetelum. Her blossoms will last into the day. Mine will not unless it is cloudy out. Yea , Here it is in its winter spot. Hard to think of winter time when we are having fall crisp 90's. Second picture is when I realized it was below freezing in my "kitchen" that night. I think it was 12 outside. YUCK I had potted it up in a smaller pot and trimmed it back .The wind picked that plant up off a 2'high porch in that pot and threw it on the ground about three feet away and broke it so I did loose some branches off of it. and I trimmed it back further. My problem is keeping it small so it will be small enough to house. It is a real balancing act. They like to have their roots crowded but one doesn't want them tipping over in a pot that is too small. So now I have it in a light plastic pot that fits in my large VERY heavy planter that I do not move..Last years freeze did not help this plant. It is a bit tired still and recuperating. It staid around 28- 26 for three days.