Laelia purpurata striata in bud

[Orquiadicto]

I bought this one bare rooted from Orquideas de Latino America at the Barcelona Orchid Show end September. At first I put her into a clay pot, but since she didn't have any viable roots, I don't think she was 'feeling' confortable. More or less a month ago, I decided to mount her onto cork. I cut off all the ancient roots. Almost immediately after mounting her, she started growing a new root and 'something' inside the sheath. It has grown quite quickly, but I had to cut the top of the sheath to let the bud come out of it. I'll post again when the bud opens. All this happened within a few weeks after changing her from pot to cork. I've never before seen such a quick change in any of my orchids.

[silken]

Wow! that does sound like a quick turn around. I have what looks like a healthy Laelia purpurata that has never bloomed. Maybe I should mount it!

Can't wait to see when your buds open.

[james mickelso]

Silken, more light. Purpuratas like as much light as you can give them short of burning. Try changing the ratio of P and K to N when you start to see a sheath or when the new pbulb has matured halfway.

[silken]

Thanks James. It must be the problem, but I sure give them a fair bit of light. My other high light plants bloom so I guess these may need more. It is mature enough to bloom I am sure. I do use a bloom booster ratio when pseudo bulbs get about 1/2 size but maybe I should cut out the nitrogen completely for a short while at that time. I'll make it bloom one of these days-I think