Plants of this species can start off like a couple of dried peas (pbulbs that have dropped their leaves). Even a very tiny plant can bloom, although the bloom might kill the plant.
Den laevifolium favors bright intermediate conditions & if plants experience a winter with intermediate, or cooler, conditions, they will drop their leaves before blooming. Plants can also grow under slightly warmer conditions, provided they are also more heavily shaded during warmer periods.
In my own experience, with warmer conditions & occasionally intermediate during "winter", Den lavifolium plants do ok in the summer under heavy shade. In our "winter period" they are brought out into cattleya light. By doing this, the plants sulk a bit during summer, however, they thrive during our intermediate periods of "winter".
If this regimen is followed, our plants bloom during late winter to early spring, while still retaining many of their mature leaves as well as having new spring growth. But the warm side of intermediate temps & bright light conditions are necessary.
The attached photo shows a typical result if such conditions are met. Otherwise, there would be no mature leaves & no new growth at bloom time.
|