Laelia purpurata var. carnea in bloom

[peeweelovesbooks]

I purchased this division from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate in July 2010. This is the first time it blooms for me.

I love it!!!!

[RosieC]

Gorgeous, I always love pupurata!

[PitcherASAMD]

Beautiful Maria! I Love the colors and the plant looks so healthy! Good growing momma

Katie

[GardenTheater]

It's lovely. Reminds me of a graceful ballerina.

[Becca]

Beautiful! I have one of these in s/h...it's been in s/h for years and it hasn't bloomed and is blooming sized I do believe....I think it hates the s/h culture! Do you have any growing/cultural info to share? I see yours is planted in LECA....how often do you water? Congrats Maria!

[Roly0217]

Maria I love it !!! You should had taken it to the COS meeting yesterday !!!! I'm going to have to give purpuratas a 3rd try. I had flamea, carnea, werkauserii, the regular typo and anellata. I managed to kill them all!!! and BTW they got reclassified as Cattleyas now.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Originally Posted by Becca

Beautiful! I have one of these in s/h...it's been in s/h for years and it hasn't bloomed and is blooming sized I do believe....I think it hates the s/h culture! Do you have any growing/cultural info to share? I see yours is planted in LECA....how often do you water? Congrats Maria!

Thanks everyone for their compliments!! I feel like a proud mama. (giggle)


Re: cultural tips--I am by no means a purpurata expert (see Rosim!) but I can tell you that

1) I grow it in 100% hydroton in clay pots (Not SH).
2) Watering--ummmmmm..IN the spring usually 3 times a week, but for the summer almost every other day.
3) I grow it in VERY bright light and LOTS of breeze.
4) I've not been fertilizing lately (BAD maria!)

I have another Laelia purpurata var. carnea that is about to bloom also.

I'm loving these!! (which means I need to get more!!)

thank you once again for the compliments.

[WhiteRabbit]

beautiful! I love the purpuratas too! good growing!

[Nico]

Congrats!!! I have hopes for mine, also purchased last year.

[silken]

Gorgeous! But it reminds me of the one I bought as a seedling, grew to bloom size and enjoyed one season of blooms and then somehow manged to kill it. Maybe I need another.