Unseasonal Laelia purpurata February bloom

[mjHuntingtonBeach]

A strangely unseasonal blooming of a laelia purpurata hybrid, "L. pupurata flamea x L. purpurata striata Doraci", started blooming in late January and into mid February. I usually get blooms off this one in early and mid summer, this was a nice surprise on the patio here in Southern California.

[NYCorchidman]

I thought these were summer bloomer too.
Well, whatever the case, who would mind its early flowering?

I love Laelia purpurata!

[CR7cristiano]

Specimen size Laelia Purpurata in bloom are the shot!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by mjHuntingtonBeach

A strangely unseasonal blooming of a laelia purpurata hybrid, "L. pupurata flamea x L. purpurata striata Doraci",

I just want to point out that this is not a hybrid, but a species cross of two varieties. I'm pretty sure that's what you meant though!

Also, did you find that the colors on this are more intense than when it blooms in summer? Is the shape also different than normal? I ask because I'm always curious about the effects of temperatures on flowering performance.

[WhiteRabbit]

Awesome!

[mjHuntingtonBeach]

I took a look back and it looks like I posted pictures of this cross when it was blooming in June and October last year. Near as I can tell, the blooms were the same in both color and size, just number of blooms was down in February.

Here is what I posted in June 2012:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...aci-bloom.html

And here in October:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ta-doraci.html

[CR7cristiano]

Seems like summer is its peak season for blooming and you will get lesser and lesser blooms the further out of season it gets.

[james mickelso]

In the first pic it looks like another bloom sheath is starting to peek out. Looks beautiful. Congrats.