Laeliapurpurata striata

[Orquiadicto]

I bought this one back at the end of September at the Barcelona orchid show. It is from OLA orchids in Brazil. It came with sheath, but bare rooted. I first put her in a clay pot with lava rock, leca, perlite and some sphagnum, but since she didn't have any viable roots, it was impossible to keep her stable in the pot, so at the end I decided to take her out of the pot, cut off all the old roots, and mount her on cork. The difference has been amazing. Within no time a new root started to grow, and soon I saw a bud developing inside the sheath. Why exactly i don't know, but the bud didn't have the strength to break open the sheath, so the stem grew in an S-shape inside the sheath. Two weeks ago I decided to cut off the top of the sheath and let the bud get out of it. The bloom has not the best shape, but I think it's because the bud was stuck inside the sheath. I hope next blooming will be better (I'll cut off half of the sheath in a much earlier stage).
The first picture is from December 21st, the second from December 28th and the last two pictures from today.

[Leafmite]

I like the colors on this.

[Orquiadicto]

Thank you.

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice!

[isurus79]

The colors on this are REALLY nice! I think when it gets established with a good root system, you will have an amazing flower.

[euplusia]

The plant still dances samba, it is in the growth rhythm of the southern hemisphere. When established the flowers will improve. Nice variety.

[tuvoc]

Nice one.

Kim

[Orquiadicto]

Thank you all for your nice comments.

[Orquiadicto]

Saturday I decided to cut the flower and put it in a small vase so the plant can put all her energy into growing a new root system.
The bloom is still OK.

[ron-in-norcal]

Very nice job! Ahh... to go to an orchid show in the beautiful city of Barcelona! Paradise!