L. Pumila wrong color?

[Wynn Dee13]

I actually have better luck blooming alaorii than pumila so I think you could bloom one fine. I actually got the one I have now from SBOE last summer. It has been growing outside this summer and I recently brought it in when I saw it had a bud so the weather wouldn't mess with it. I have it under T8 lights in my spare bedroom. The humidity isn't that great right now since our weather has been hot (for us anyways) the last few days and it doesn't seem to mind. I grow mine potted in clay pots with sphagnum moss. I think you should try one!

[GardenTheater]

Wynn, Thanks for the growing tips. I'm so happy to hear it's relatively easy. I do well with sphagnum. I don't like to water. There is a nice guy, originally from Brazil, who displays at AOS shows here. He said he could get me one and asked what color I wanted. I'll need to search for him on the net. Hmmm...don't know if I want to wait for it to come that far and then get used to drier air here. Climate where I live is so similar to SBOE, their orchids adjust fast to it. Guess I'll have to get two.

[GardenTheater]

Thanks again everyone. It's getting darker now like all predicted. It's in the garden and a nice dark color will pop. My landscaping fantasy is to have one in each podocarpus tree...then add more with different bloom times for several months of blooms.

Here is what it looks like today:

Laelia pumila | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Wynn Dee13]

Good news!

[Ray]

Also keep in mind that color development can be effected by both light levels and temperatures, so even the same plant can bloom differently one time to the next.

[GardenTheater]

Originally Posted by Ray

Also keep in mind that color development can be effected by both light levels and temperatures, so even the same plant can bloom differently one time to the next.

Thanks for letting me know. Now I won't be confused when it happens.

[GardenTheater]

Here is one of the two blooms. Its the right color. Any thoughts on why lip never opened properly on either bloom. Just stayed like this photo. I did open one a bit with toothpick but left this one alone. L. Pumila 'SanBar Sparkler' | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Wynn Dee13]

Wow I'm not sure why it did that. Is it a first bloom? Did you use any SuperThrive or KLN on it? Hopefully the next bloom will be normal.

[Wynn Dee13]

Was the lip fused or did it just not open?

[GardenTheater]

Wynn, on the fertilizer side, I waited a month after I received and mounted it before fertilizing to give it time to adjust. I usually fertilize my catts once a week, but this one I did every other week. I'd water it first and then do Dynagrow 7-9-5 at regular strength since I haven't found an 1/8 tsp. Same strength as i use on the other catts. The lip was not fused or sticky. It is the first bloom for me on this plant which looks like division. Dont recall if it has a dried stem from prior bloom. Thanks for asking!