Owners of Laelia milleri - An important question

[Swimmingorchids]

the temperature ranges seemed a bit extreme to me and from the care guide I checked Laelia milleri needs 16-24 degrees C with a drop to 12 C in winter.
(perfect UK climate lol)

35 C just seems quite excessive. Is that measuring with radiant heat from thermometer in full sun? Or a typo? Or you testing their sauna hardiness

---------- Post added at 12:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:29 AM ----------

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Swimmingorchids

35 C just seems quite excessive. Is that measuring with radiant heat from thermometer in full sun? Or a typo? Or you testing their sauna hardiness [COLOR="Silver"]

Frequently it goes up to 40ºC and over...
But nights here are around 15 to 18ºC in summer so it has a good recovery. I don't have photos at hand right now but the plant is growing nicely. Under these temps I water it almost everyday.
I'll post photos tomorrow.

[Roberta]

In nature, these little Brazillian Laelias can get lots of heat - 40 deg C is on the high side but not unreasonable and overnight cooldown helps, as well. rbarata has the "secret" - water a lot. Plenty of air movement - which an outdoor plant gets, also helps a lot. Swimmingorchids, do a little research on the climate in the habitat of these species (or better still visit Brazil... there is nothing like experiencing an orchid habitat for oneself to give profound understanding of the "real life" of these charming plants. I have found visits to places where orchid species grow to be quite life-changing as an orchid grower.)

[Swimmingorchids]

yeah I've been to Brazil. And Peru and Ecuador. Had all our wheels stolen off our 4x4 while in Ecuador...

[rbarata]

Due to time constraints, usually I water by the end of the afternoon, some times in the dawn when I go to work. It mimicks its habitat (lower temps at night with water provided by fog/heavy mist).

But back to my question: does it bloom from dry sheaths?

Here's some photos (the pbulb with the sheath is the newest and grown under my care):

[Roberta]

That last dry sheath looks like it will be a "blind sheath". My milleri isn't blooming, but my other rupiculous Laelias seem to start moving the spike out of the sheath while it's still green.

[rbarata]

Roberta
By "blind sheath" do you mean empty sheath?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Roberta
By "blind sheath" do you mean empty sheath?

Exactly. A sheath can have a spike in it that doesn't develop fully (the most frustrating kind) but that one is totally flat and dry, so nothing ever tried to develop. Looking at my "rupis" that are spiking, the sheath is on the dry side by the time the spike emerges, but they were nice and fat before the spike actually came out.

[rbarata]

So, no blooms this year.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

So, no blooms this year.

Alas, at least not this time. I don't know about milleri, but some others in this group do bloom more than once a year, so maybe you won't have to wait a full year.