A couple of Leptotes

[rbarata]

Roberta, I haven't got into the culture details but... am I wrong to say that Leptotes cultural requirements is more or less the same as Laelia Lundii?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Roberta, I haven't got into the culture details but... am I wrong to say that Leptotes cultural requirements is more or less the same as Laelia Lundii?

I think you are quite correct. And I grow both in the same area, in the same way (mounted, no moss).

[Leafmite]

They are absolutely beautiful! I need to get more of these!

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I think you are quite correct. And I grow both in the same area, in the same way (mounted, no moss).

If I get one of these it will be potted. It's too dry around here

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Roberta, I haven't got into the culture details but... am I wrong to say that Leptotes cultural requirements is more or less the same as Laelia Lundii?

I'm not at all familiar with Laelia lundii. What are the cultural requirements? (Just to compare to how I grow my Leptotes)

[james j]

I’ve read that you can make a substitute for Vanilla extract with these. Any one ever try or know someone who did?
I have one in a wooden basket with a few buds. The flowers seem to develop painfully slow.

[Roberta]

I have heard that too... that the seed pods contain vanillin. I'd suspect that you'd need a whole lot of them. And then pollinate the flowers and wait some more. And then go through a curing/fermentation process. Easier to buy! Yes, the buds develop slowly. But just be patient, they'll get there.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I'm not at all familiar with Laelia lundii. What are the cultural requirements? (Just to compare to how I grow my Leptotes)

Copied from Orchid Wiz (my conditions differ a little from these, especially in RH, which is much lower, and max. winter temps, which are not so high when there's no sun, and min. summer temps, which are not so low):

Laelia lundii

LIGHT: 2500-3500 fc. Light should be somewhat filtered or diffused, and plants should not be exposed to direct midday sun. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.

TEMPERATURES: Summer days average 85–87F (30–31C), and nights average 66–68F (19–20C), with a diurnal range of 18–19F (10–11C). Growers report that plants also grow well under intermediate to cool conditions.

HUMIDITY: Averages are not available for this location, but records from other stations in the region indicate that humidity probably averages near 75% in summer and early autumn, dropping to about 70% from late autumn through spring. The stream-side, forest habitat may be somewhat more humid, however. WATER: Rainfall is moderate to heavy from spring to early autumn. Averages decline rapidly in autumn and remain low during a winter dry season which lasts 4–5 months. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but the roots must always dry rapidly after watering. Water should be reduced after new growths mature in autumn.

FERTILIZER: 1/4–1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly while plants are actively growing. A high-nitrogen fertilizer is beneficial from spring to midsummer, but a higher phosphate fertilizer should be used in late summer and autumn.

REST PERIOD: Winter days average 78–81F (26–27C), and nights average 55–57F (13–14C), with a diurnal range of 23–24F (13C). Rainfall is lower for about 5 months from autumn through winter, and for 2 months in early winter, rainfall is very low. Even during the driest part of the winter, however, some additional moisture is often available from frequent heavy dew and night-time mist. Water should be reduced for cultivated plants in winter, but they should never remain dry for long periods. Growers generally recommend occasional early-morning mistings between infrequent light waterings until new growth starts in spring. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated until heavier watering is resumed.

GROWING MEDIA: Plants are usually mounted on slabs of cork or hardwood because of their creeping growth habit. Mounted plants require high humidity and frequent watering, however, especially during extremely hot, dry, summer weather. If mounting is not practical, hanging pots or baskets may be filled with an open, very coarse, fast-draining medium that allows the roots to dry rapidly after watering. Repotting or dividing should always be done just as new root growth is just starting.

[piping plover]

Beautiful blooms Roberta. Photographed so nicely too with lighting and black background.