Laelia gouldiana blooming at last! - Orchid Board

kiki-do · #1 12-17-2009, 09:30 AM

Hi all! It's been a while since I posted, but I'm very excited about my Laelia gouldiana blooming for the very first time since I got it in 2007. I got it from Andy's and it was in spike, but blasted, so never knew what to expect this time. The plant is on a stick, and the stem is 22 inches long and is extremely hard to manage watering (I take every chid to the sink for watering) and not snapping off the stem.

Hope you enjoy the pics. I haven't had a chance to get a fragrance yet as it's so newly opened. And by the way, the temperature is -5F here in my neck of the woods in Maine this morning with some pretty harsh winds.

So, my Laelia is a star attraction for me this brutal day.

tuvoc · #2 12-17-2009, 11:13 AM

Wow! Well done.

Kim

trdyl · #3 12-17-2009, 11:46 AM

Nice one Kiki. Do you perfer it mounted?

Intruder · #4 12-17-2009, 01:09 PM

Nice flowering also, but why do you cultivate it on a stick. Don't forget that it is an heavy eater.

smweaver · #5 12-17-2009, 03:55 PM

Beautiful blooms. And yes, you're right about it being hard to water (or move) these long-stemmed laelias without damaging their spikes. I'll be interested to find out whether or not your plant's blooms are fragrant after they've been open for a few days. Congratulations.

Steve

kiki-do · #6 12-17-2009, 05:21 PM

Thank you all. It's not that I prefer it mounted, but it came that way (Andy's.... Orchids on a Stick) and the roots were nice and fused onto the wood. Plus it is a really cool look in their natural state. That was my very first orchid on a stick, by the way.

WhiteRabbit · #7 12-17-2009, 05:30 PM

wow - very nice!
I agree with liking how they look mounted. I have one from Andy's (Den bigibbum) and it looks awesome!
None of my mounted orchids have bloomed yet, but have considered that watering must be a bit challenging - especially yours with that amazing spike!

Good growing!

Lagoon · #8 12-17-2009, 05:45 PM

Congrats Kiki, This is really gorgeous!!!

BikerDoc5968 · #9 12-17-2009, 06:28 PM

Kiki, that is one beautiful flwoer!!! And to think you can do that way up there in Maine with 40 ft of snow..

kiki-do · #10 12-17-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

Kiki, that is one beautiful flwoer!!! And to think you can do that way up there in Maine with 40 ft of snow..

Well, thanks Doc, but I wouldn't have 40 ft of snow if you and Ross wouldn't keep blowing it this way. You two must have snowblowers with a hemi in it!

Today's weather was brutal! It started out in the minus, then got up to 8 above as our high for the day, and now it's down in the minuses again. This takes a while getting use to, I must say.