Laelia albida questions

[ArronOB]

Hi. This is my Laelia albida in flower. I bought this in bag baby size and have waited a long time for a flowering. Now it’s flowering, I’m a bit disappointed. The first issue is that the flowers appear to be carried on very weak stems and point downwards. The second issue is that it’s violet while I was expecting white - white would have been a nice change as I have perhaps too many violet flowers already.

Specifically it’s L. Albida ‘moonah ’ x L. albida ‘snowdrops’. I can’t find out anything about moonah but with a parent called snowdrops it never occurred to me it wouldn’t be white.

Any comments on these issues. Is the downward pointing habit perhaps a symptom of poor growing or a first flowering? Is violet to be expected with this cross?

On the plus side it’s an attractive compact growing plant which has stayed neatly in its pot and not been troubled by either bugs or disease. I grow it outside year-round.

Cheers
Arron

[estación seca]

A lot of plants improve with subsequent flowering. I would give it more time. I guess you didn't get a white one.

I don't know Laelia albida well enough to tell whether you actually have that plant. I would go to IOSPE and pay detailed attention to lip and column morphology. Somebody who knows the plant may pipe in here.

[SouthPark]

Not sure Arron. If it was NOT a particular cultivar or mericlone and white-colour was expected, then the flower could turn out to be any colour ------ if it's supposed to be one of so many possible results from the cross.

Nice colours though!!!!! I quite like that one!

As for pointing downwards --- could probably just use a wire or rod and garden=ties to re-orient the spike or flowers - for taking some nice snaps of the flowers - closeup.

[Fairorchids]

Most albas are recessive. If you breed an alba with a tipo, you will get all tipo in the next generation.

The idea is to self one of these plants, so you will get 25% albas (hopefully improved) in the following generation.

[isurus79]

The first bloom is usually the ugliest. It should perk up on subsequent blooms.

[ArronOB]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Most albas are recessive. If you breed an alba with a tipo, you will get all tipo in the next generation.

The idea is to self one of these plants, so you will get 25% albas (hopefully improved) in the following generation.

As I understand it, in nature, L. albida is usually white. I saw a reference to pink form being extremely rare. Wouldn’t that imply the white for is dominant?

[SouthPark]

I think that rather than being disappointed - if the species is generally white, but you ended up with a nice violet one like this ------ should probably be over the moon or ecstatic about that Arron heheheheh.

You might have ended up with a gem or something 'special'.

Originally Posted by ArronOB

As I understand it, in nature, L. albida is usually white. I saw a reference to pink form being extremely rare. Wouldn’t that imply the white for is dominant?

It could imply that, or pink form could even be due to mutation - not sure. But could also imply you got lucky. Very lucky.

[estación seca]

I wish somebody who knows Laelia albida well could address this. It could also be a hybrid, not a pure species.

[SouthPark]

Arron - one link I found leads to 'AON' as a possible source of the white-coloured albida you're looking for. Maybe you can send an email to 'AON'.

This link page 5: Click Here

Even if they're out of stock, they could put you through to somebody to get one of these.

[Maryanne]

Hello Arron:
I have a Laelia albida, and it does not look like yours. I purchased from Santa Barbara Orchids, which is a reputable source, so I have confidence that mine is the correct species. It is not a named clone, so is a representative of the species. Check out the orchidspecies.com listing for L. albida.
The photo of yours makes me think it is a hybrid, and perhaps was mislabeled. It looks like it may be a cross of L. albida and L. anceps? Just a guess.
"Albida" implies it is an 'alba' color or white...the species can have a pale pinkish form too.
Whatever it is you have it is worth haning onto and enjoying. The bloom is attrative, so picture that multiplied with 3 or 4 spikes and several blooms to the spike. You will forgive it for not being what you thought you purchased.
I grow mine mounted and it takes temperatures of near freezing to 90F plus, tolerates drying out.
Good luck with your little beauty!
Maryanne in WMass