Laelia (Rupiculous) Orchids

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by LovePhals

The bradei looks very cool!

You need to add one of these plants to your grow lists LovePhals. In fact I am starting to give away my larger Cattleya to make room for these plants!

[s.kallima]

Matt, I see another collection is on the starting point I wonder how much room you have to grow orchids in you place
Like Neofinetia, they also look nice when not in bloom (not as nice though!), but the bloom are spectacular.

Cshaz is an excellent seller, I bought my all rupicolous Laelia collection (22 species to date) from him. He provides great advices if you have a question, and his plants are very healthy and the best price/quality ratio!

Just a side note : they are species, not varieties like you mentioned earlier

I have success growing mine under fluorescent lights in winter (very close to the T5s, 5 inches or so), and outside in the summer.. They easily take full sun, and need watering every day then, as long as they are dry by evening.
I find them quite easy to grow, but you need very high light to get them to bloom. T5s are not enough, you need stronger lights, or sun exposure during summer at least.
I grow mine in a mix of fine bark, lava rock, perlite and pumice on top.

One important thing to remember is to water the pots from the bottom in winter and not spray the plants (unless using a fungicide in the spray), because new growths rot extremely easily (like in one day !) if they get wet.
In warmer weather, when they are outside exposed to the wind, I spray the plants once or twice a day and water them heavily once a day or two.

---------- Post added at 09:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 AM ----------

Originally Posted by james mickelso

I really like the rupis. They are so cool. They can take full sun here in SoCal. I have three. SWhich ones I don't know. The tags just said rupiculous laelias when I got them two years ago at the SDCOS. Here's the flower I just got on one.

James, I have never seen a rupicolous Laelia with this shape of flower, I am surprise by the round tepals, it looks like it could have a 4N sophronitis as parent!!! It would be interesting to know more about this plant !

[Paul]

Rupis are nifty. Have owned a lilliputana for several years now but have not been able to bloom it. The leaves on mine have a dark burgundy blush pretty much all year long. Cute lil bugger -- though flowers would be nice.

James' plant might be a hybrid but I am extremely skeptical that it is a pure rupi ... not with flowers like that. I'd have to agree that it likely has sophronitis as a parent.

[MattWoelfsen]

Laelia crispata, alaorii, and sanguiloba, from eBay vendor cshaz arrived a day early--that is great! The plants were packed very well, and they look super! All of these plants pictured in this post, are now in my possessin.

To s.kallima, yes these plants look very interesting--each one has a distinct look and appeal. The flowers are spectacular--dare I say, much lovelier than my beloved Neofineta plants? (Heresy!) I don't really have a lot more room for more Laelia or Neofinetia except to get rid of larger plants that look so overgrown compared to these plants. I have three, huge Cattleya that are going to new homes.

[MattWoelfsen]

Opps! I couldn't resist.

One of these plants is coming to me: Laelia caulescens: (not my photo, it came from eBay vendor unhappykat1)


Laelia caulescens by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

The flower for this one looks like this:


Laelia caulescens by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Since i can't resist giving this plant a travelling companion, one of these Laelia milleri is coming too (same unhappykat1 eBay vendor):


Laelia milleri by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Picture of Laelia milleri (from same eBay vendor unhappykat1):


Laelia milleri by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

[Call_Me_Bob]

Nice plants! Just a note on that ebay seller, his name is Chaze and he is a member of my orchids society! He's a great guy with quality plants!!

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by Call_Me_Bob

Nice plants! Just a note on that ebay seller, his name is Chaze and he is a member of my orchids society! He's a great guy with quality plants!!

Glad to know Chaze is as good as his plants! I wish he could come on here and explain the provenance of his plants. These are fascinating and unique plants. I bet he has a good story to tell.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

Glad to know Chaze is as good as his plants! I wish he could come on here and explain the provenance of his plants. These are fascinating and unique plants. I bet he has a good story to tell.

Oops, I spelled his name wrong...It's Chaz

[MattWoelfsen]

Laelia milleri and Laelia caulescens arrived today. They are pretty and healthy plants but are very small. It will probably take several seasons before these are large enough to bloom! My L.caulescens is the second plant from the left. My L.milleri is the first pot from the right.

[MattWoelfsen]

In my quest to find more Laelia Rupicolous orchids, I came across this flask from eBay vendor mab3362. He describes his product as "made from a selfing of the original awarded Cattleya Psyche ‘China’. This plant received a AM of 84 points in 1977! Psyche is great primary hybrid between Cattleya (Laelia) cinnabarina x Cattleya (Sophronitis coccinea). This flask will yield some plants better than China and some less. This is much better than a cloning as you may get something real special! The name Psyche may not ring a bell but it the parent of many awarded plants (ie. Precious Stones, Marathon, and many more) and a great primary hybrid. Have a look at Orchid Wiz. Since it is half coccinea – a cooler climate is advised."

Here are photos from the vendor. I cannot wait to see this flask. The vendor states there are about 25 plants in the flask. Credit for these two photos goes to Fred Clark, cited by eBay vendor mab3362.


Cattleya Psyche 'China' by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr


Cattleya Psyche 'China' by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

If all of these plants grow to full bloom size, I'm going to need good homes!