Laelia harpophylla

[LauraN]

I was a little disappointed in myself for putting this little lovely in too high light...I think that is why I only got one bud per spike ?! Either way, it is a very vibrant flower, and hopefully I'll do a better job next blooming...

[cb977]

Disappointed? LOL...you're killin' me!

[Tindomul]

The second one is gorgeous. I suppose you were looking for a darker color in the blooms? In anycase it beautiful!

[Dorothy]

Oh my .. how lovely!

[Paul]

Pretty lil bugger

[Becca]

Oh I must have! Is it considered a mini?

[LauraN]

Thanks for the compliments!... It is not a mini... The color is actually darker than it shows up on film.
I was disappointed that I only got 1 bud per spike, as it should have many on each spike. I think I stunted it, by putting it in a much sunnier/hotter location than it needed or wanted...
Live and learn!

[Mahon]

Laura,

Great growing! I love the flowers on this species!
The lack of flowers per spike may be because it is still young, or it switched conditions in the past few months?

Sunlight is definitely not the problem for this species. I grow the vast majority of my Rupiculous Laelia (now classified as Hoffmannseggella) in full sunlight. Most of these Hoffmannseggella are drier-growing lithophytes from Brazil.

-Pat

[LauraN]

Thanks for the info Pat... When I bought this plant it had 4 new growths started, it was being grown in about 50% light. I brought it home and put it in a higher light area of my orchid room, unfortunately I hung it against my wire that has white plastic on the outside for winterizing....
Not sure now, whether it was just the transition, or the heat that was coming off the plastic midday, seems like from your info that it wasn't the higher light...

[Orchidflowerchild]

Originally Posted by Mahon

Laura,
Sunlight is definitely not the problem for this species. I grow the vast majority of my Rupiculous Laelia (now classified as Hoffmannseggella) in full sunlight. Most of these Hoffmannseggella are drier-growing lithophytes from Brazil.

-Pat

Actually, L. haropophylla, kautskyi (NOT kautskyana), and brevicaulis have been reclassified into Dungsia by Chiron and Castro (in the same paper where they resurrected Hoffmannseggella). THese species are characterized by larger, less robust plants with more spindle-to-pencil shaped pseudobulbs, longer, thinner, leaves and an epiphytic (versus lithophytic) habit. They grow in more moderate light, being in the canopy rather than open rock and scrub, they recieve dramatically more rainfall, and grow in considerably higher elevations that most other former members of Laelia, section parviflorae. Their preferred conditions are more cool-intermediate, like the hadrolealias and some of the sophronitis. I had better luck treating them like Soph wittigiana or other drier-than-coccinea growing Sophs.

As to the original question, I imagine the low flower count could be for various reasons...age of plant, excessive temps, etc. Excessive light is not likely to cause low flower count, in fact, it will likely boost flower count, unless the light is enough to bleach out the cholorphyll or produce severe burning and dessication. The problem is more likely associated with the increase of heat with the light increase.

Moderate temps, and it will likely do better. Think along the lines of traditional mountain cattleya conditions: 60's-70's at night, and try to keep it under 85 for a high. Colour and flower size will be improved if you can keep it a little to the lower end, say low 60's at night to no higher than mid-seventies for a high.

-Cj