Owners of Laelia milleri - An important question

[rbarata]

I'm not sure but I think there a small dry sheath.
This color of the pbulbs was already there when I got it ut it never lost it. I don't have it under full sun but it's under around 20% shade.

[Ray]

I do not have first-hand experience with this, but have heard that many of those so-called "rupicolous laelias" come from regions where the soil contains a lot of iron, resulting in high iron content of the exudates released by the terrestrial vegetation. That suggest they can benefit from a little bit of iron supplementation (iron sulfate is common).

[rbarata]

Yes, Ray, you're right!

Laelia milleri is endemic froma reion in Minas Gerais (Brasil) where iron ore is abundant. In fact there are a lot of iron ore mines, hence the name of this region: Quadrilatero ferrífero (wiki in english)

Orchidwiz mentions the relationship of this specie with iron:

"Growers report that plants often grow well but bloom poorly. They indicate that the addition of some rusty nails to the pot, thereby increasing the available iron, will frequently initiate blooms within a short time. As one of the rupicolous or rock-growing laelias, Laelia milleri is considered difficult to cultivate."

I wanted to try this technique but by the time of reppoting I simply forgot it. But I can always put the nails om top of the medium.

[Ray]

I'm sorry, but "rusty nails" is a terrible idea.

Supplement your feed with [aluminum]* sulfate. It's far more soluble and controlled.

* EDIT: IRON sulfate, not aluminum! (Sorry)

[rbarata]

Ray, why is it a bad idea? Solubility issues?

About Al...what does it has to do with iron?

[SaraJean]

If you don’t see a sheath yet, you should see one very soon if there is going to be one. Mine started to pop out almost as soon as the leaf unfolded and has been hanging around for a couple of weeks. No clue if there are any buds in it though

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Ray

Supplement your feed with aluminum sulfate. It's far more soluble and controlled.

We know what you mean in advance Ray ...... about the aluminium sulphate.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

We know what you mean in advance Ray ...... about the aluminium sulphate.

And that is...?

[neophyte]

he was referring to an alternative way of spelling "aluminum sulfate."

[Nexogen]

Aluminium sulfate - Wikipedia