Laelia reginae (Project 5 - Spring 2007)

[Dorothy]

I have to hijack this thread for a second and just compliment all the support that everyone shares .. it's truly touches the heart .. Thanks to all the wonderful orchid growers here
You make OB what it is .. the best orchid forum online

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by Ross

How can this be? Rupiculous Laelias love full sun and, in fact won't bloom without it. Mine is in very bright light (for Northern Michigan) and has put out 2 new growths. I don't have the one you have, but a relative (L. briegeri). I've never heard of burning a rupiculous Laelia in full sun.

Heya Ross... remember, anything that is acclimated to a low light level will experience burns on the foliage/p-bulbs if you suddenly expose it to direct light... the cymbidiums get full on sun all winter in the GH, but I still have to acclimate them over a week or so to the higher light levels before I can leave them in the yard in full on summer sun. It is sort of odd that you would get black crispy leaves though...usually badly sunburnt leaves will bleach out to white/tan and go limp.
I don't grow any of the rupies, but I am wondering if you can use culture similar to the Mexican laelias when they are in active growth: high humidity, frequent watering, high light (think red tinged leaves and vandas here) and rapidly drying conditions due to movement of air...
One other thing...in your pic is the plant in granite chips, or diatomite? It almost looks like diatomite to me...which would hold more water and keep the roots cooler...as well as be very free draining.
Just my two cents (or three...)
Adam

[Ross]

Originally Posted by stonedragonfarms

One other thing...in your pic is the plant in granite chips, or diatomite? Adam

Adam, it's granite chips. I have diatomite in a different pot and can see the diff.

[luckygrower]

Hi everyone, just thought I needed to give an update on my Laelia reginae,I have it growing at about 2" from a T5 light in my exo-terra, it has not blommed and the one sheath died but it has 2 fantastic new growths, see picture's below.

[cb977]

Way to go...it looks great!

[Ross]

Looks really nice. That purple color is a good sign. I believe these guys bloom later in spring or early summer? You still could get a spike. Keep up the good work!

[Becca]

Originally Posted by luckygrower

Hi everyone, just thought I needed to give an update on my Laelia reginae,I have it growing at about 2" from a T5 light in my exo-terra, it has not blommed and the one sheath died but it has 2 fantastic new growths, see picture's below.

Nice Growing! I have mine as close as possible to the lightsin my large orchidarium, unfortunately it is not the one with the T5 lights. My one new growth still hasn't opened yet...I figured it was to dehydrated to open, but what do I know....I can see part of a sheath sticking out just a tad and it is swelling more....not sure why it would have a sheath inside but not open the leaf? I kept bumping mine while it was in it's pot and I wasn't able to use a rhizomes clip since the pot was too small for one to clip on so I mounted mine on some epiweb sitting in a bed of coconut husk fiber. I hope mine will do as well as yours is!

[Lindafvb]

My little one is also doing well. My update is similiar to luckygrower. I have two new growths but it is not as purple. One leaf is almost fully opened. Seems happy enough. I have enjoyed growing this little orchid that I have 3 more orchids coming from Andy's. I thank the board for introducing me to this little group.

[kiki-do]

Awesome growing! Mine is not doing anything that I have noticed! Wish I could report more growth, but nada!

[Lindafvb]

Hmmmm, Kiki what are the growing conditions? I grow this like a catt. in the sun but it sure does like to stay moist. Maybe it is the medium but I spray my little one daily like my orchids on a stick. I spray the dyna-gro and soak the pot weekly. I can really see the roots plump up. I guess the trick will be if I can get it to bloom.