Laelia? Help with ID - Orchid Board

bethmarie · #1 10-24-2013, 03:02 AM

This came from a friend. Not sure what it is other than really dehydrated. It has roots and leaves in three different directions, so I'm mulling what the heck to do with it. Input welcome!

Silje · #2 10-24-2013, 03:46 AM

How large is this plant? I think it looks like a callista-dendrobium of some kind. Maybe aggregatum/lindleyi?

Aussie42 · #3 10-24-2013, 06:18 AM

I agree it looks like a Den lindleyi that's been given low water to encouraging flowering, but in my experience they almost invariably (well, in my experience invariably) send new canes from the base. The second photo is what I'm talking about, I would have expected the new lead to come from the base and not "one up".

Just my two cents.

And you might want to consider slicing the old cane between the two new growths to be able to pot it properly. Mind you, if it's anything like Den lindleyi, it could do very well mounted.

Cheers,
Aus.

Thei · #4 10-24-2013, 02:50 PM

I think it looks like laelia from Mexico gouldiana or autumnalis

bethmarie · #5 10-24-2013, 05:20 PM

I'm attaching a picture to clarify the size.

It may be a moot point for this little guy, though. Some, maybe all of the white roots I thought were live are dried out and dead. I'm sure it can be done, but I haven't had much luck getting an orchid to generate roots from scratch.

Thanks Silje, Aussie, and Thei for your responses

Silje · #6 10-24-2013, 06:14 PM

Based on the size I still believe this is a dendrobium. I would not give up on this one yet, even if the roots on the picture are dry. It might still try to push out a new growth. The bulbs on lindleyi can look pretty shriveled and terrible after a long winter rest, but the plant is still alive so I'd definitely give this one more time and I'd only throw it once everything is dried up and brown.

PaphMadMan · #7 10-24-2013, 08:34 PM

Laelia would not be expected to sprout a growth from the side of a pseudobulb, as the picture shows. Dendrobium seems likely. I'd just remove any dead tissue, and sphag and bag it and see what happens.

calypsoB · #8 10-24-2013, 10:42 PM

If it is dendro they throw out roots pretty easily! Don't give up hope

Leafmite · #9 10-25-2013, 12:03 AM

If this is Den aggregatum, it is absolutely going to live. They get all horrible like this, then, in the spring you water them and they (amazingly) send out new shoots with no trouble at all. I would just put it in a basket with red lava rock or bark and hang it in a sunny place and leave alone until spring.

---------- Post added at 11:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 PM ----------

If it is a laelia, I have never seen one so shrivelled. If the roots are finished, watering doesn't help so I would still pot it up and leave it alone, hoping for an eye. It really looks like my den aggregatum, though.