Laelia anceps - Dry sheath

[dounoharm]

just this week I noticed a bud coming on a cattleya, with no sheath at all, and another bud from an old dry sheath....you never can tell!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Are there any signs when the sun burn process starts, apart the obvious burns?

Not really... if you see a white spot developing, you can move it before damage is bad. But with some cloud cover, the plant does have a chance to adjust. Mine get about 13 hours a day of direct sun all summer.(I am 33 deg N) Leaves aren't pretty, but no burn spots. One thing to watch a little on yours, perhaps... because it its history, some of the leaves are horizontal, making them a little more vulnerable. (There is a reason why they tend to grow with leaves pointed upward... less surface area to the sun) but some of mine are horizontal too. These are amazingly tough.

If you have a piece of shade cloth or other "mesh" cloth, you could put over the plant on the hottest, brightest days for a little while. But I think that the plant is moving in the right direction to acclimate.

[rbarata]

If you have a piece of shade cloth or other "mesh" cloth, you could put over the plant on the hottest, brightest days for a little while. But I think that the plant is moving in the right direction to acclimate.

I can reduce the nº of hrs of direct sun but not the intensity. This means to move it in the balcony so that it start to get direct sun around 12 noon till 19:00. In its actual location it gets direct sun from 09:30 till 19:00.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

I can reduce the nº of hrs of direct sun but not the intensity. This means to move it in the balcony so that it start to get direct sun around 12 noon till 19:00. In its actual location it gets direct sun from 09:30 till 19:00.

Reducing the duration a little would be good. As spring and summer progress, it will be able to take more duration.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Reducing the duration a little would be good. As spring and summer progress, it will be able to take more duration.

I think is better. I'm not home most of the day and it can happen in between.

[rbarata]

Never had a sunburned orchid so I need your help in the monitoring...I keep these photos inside a folder named "On the way to a sunburn".

Althou all the 3 new growths are looking good, I think some of the leaves are becoming a bit too white.

[Roberta]

If you can move it to a place that gets fewer hours of direct sun, may help it acclimate to the brighter light. You are near the limit of what it wants now. (Mine have never known anything but toasting bright light, but yours may need somewhat more pampering as the sun gets brighter.) If you have a piece of shade cloth (or similar mesh cloth) that you can put over the plant, that would help its transition.

I have "toasted" leaves on nearly everything else at some time (even Cymbidiums and Den. speciosums) but have never had it happen on a L. anceps. But I don't know how long it takes one to transition from low indoor light to bright outdoor light because I have never had to do that.

[rbarata]

In your experience, how long does a plant like this needs to be acclimatized?

If you have a piece of shade cloth (or similar mesh cloth) that you can put over the plant, that would help its transition.

The sun is already too high now and I can't put anything covering the balcony. My neighbours wouldn't allow it (here we have rules about building aesthetics and to do such a thing I must follow a protocol to get permission...not easy).
Unless I throw the cloth directly over the plant to cover it.
Next week we will have those days with sun and rain so it won't be all day under a full sun. It will give me time to think about a solution.

[Roberta]

I was thinking of just draping shade cloth directly on the plant (sort of like the veil on a lady's hat) - you would then not have to hang anything that would be visible to the rest of the world.

[rbarata]

I see...do you think this one is enough? It's almost transparent and lets the air circulate...