Is my laelia gouldiana going to bloom?

[jmccoy]

I was watching today and looking at my laelia and at first I thought it was growing new leaves but now Im wondering if it is achtually going to bloom. Are these sheaths?

[PaphMadMan]

Yes, but that new spike has a lot of growing to do first.

[jmccoy]

Omg this makes me so happy! I counted three sheaths! Omg I am so excited. Do they rebloom from the same pseudobulbs?

[silken]

Definitely sheaths/spikes. No, Cattleya type don't usually bloom a 2nd time from the same pseudobulb. They produce a new growth which then blooms.

[jmccoy]

Oh my this is really good news. Thank you. I find it interesting that it must have grown those three pseudobulbs over the last year. I only bought it a month or two ago and it wasnt soon after I bought it that the spikes started to appear.

Is there any special treatment I should do with the sheaths as they grow?

[silken]

I don't do much. Sometimes if the buds are nearing the top of a sheath and look crowded I will snip the tip of the sheath off before the buds get that big or split it open very carefully. With some of the Laelia's, like anceps and maybe yours, the spike is tall and not really much sheath, so nothing to do but wait. Keep your plant oriented to the light the same direction and hopefully the blooms will display a bit nicer. if you change directions a lot, the blooms can be turned and sideways etc. trying to get to the light. If its a tall spike be careful it doesn't hit the lights if you are away for a couple days or don't have time to check them.

[jmccoy]

I really appreciate that information. I will make a mark on the pot as to the direction to keep it in so I have to keep it going that direction even if I pick it up to look at it. My lights are adjustable so if need be I can raise the lights up quite a few feet or once it starts getting too big perhaps I can talk the family into letting me move it out to the southern windowsill that my moms african violets live on.

Thank you all again so much. I can't wait to post photos once it blooms.

[estación seca]

Your mom would probably wash my mouth out for saying this, but her African violets will do fine under lights.

[smweaver]

Looks like a spike to me too. But (and I may be completely wrong) I think you might have a hybrid. All of the Laelia gouldianas I've seen (and the two I grow) have much longer and narrower leaves than your plant has, and they end in sharp points. Be prepared for a very long spike if it's truly gouldiana (something between three and five feet range). And I agree with Estacion Seca: Laelia gouldiana takes a much higher degree of light than any african violet, so perhaps you could persuade your mom to make a little space for your plant. Good luck, and can't wait to see this one bloom.

[jmccoy]

Lol thank you both guys. I am sure I will be able to display them somewhere on the windowsill while they bloom and then return them to under the my lights. I wonder if the leaves are not very long cause of the previous grower not having enough of something. Idk cause there are three bulbs that are blooming now once I got them in my set up and not before. Idk.