laelia division

[kielley]

I recently made the probable mistake of purchasing a laelia purpurata divison through ebay. The division I received has only 2 leads and one very small root. I have secured this into a pot and tend it as I would any other division (albeit ones with more growing potential). The leaves of the leads are obviously those of a mature plant judging by their size and evidence of bloom. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[smartie2000]

...I hope the plant grows new roots and leads soon. I think it will survive fine.

Maybe water it with a rooting hormone like KLN

[Shadow]

Why is it a mistake? Two leads are better than one. It means you will get two new growths. The new roots will apear at the bases of new growths.

[Ross]

Yeah I agree with Smartie. I wouldn't be distraught at all. Soak medium in KLN and water with KLN every other day or so until you see signs of root activity (believe me you will!) I have had some pretty dismal orchids respond to KLN where nothing else worked. Had a single backbulb respond and go on to bloom for me. You should consider spiking down the plant to keep it from shifting in the pot. They make some clips just for this purpose.

[Frdemetr]

Laelia purpurata (now called Hadrolaelia, Brasilaelia or - belive it or not - Sophronitis!) is a very robust plant, and I think even a small back division with only two pbulbs could survive. You can try the "sphag in a bag" way, using moisted moss (with a few drops of Superthrieve or something like that) in the bottom of a plastic bag, put the division over the moss and close the bag, hanging it on a semi-shaded place. Sometimes works, and new roots grow.
When you buy a cattleya-alliance division, you need at least 4 pbulbs in a back division or 3 in a frontal division to be sure that it will survive. I've saved very small divisons of purpurata-related Laelias (lobata, grandis, xanthina), sometime one only pbulb with no roots at all, but remember I live in a tropical weather and L. purpurata cames from southeast/south brazilian coastal plateau, exactly when I live! Good luck!

[kielley]

Thanks to all for your advice. I just happen to have some KLN which I used initially. I will have faith and be more persistent. As an aside: all these new names! I guess I'm a "clumper" at heart, not a "splitter." Perhaps just resistent to change.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by kielley

Thanks to all for your advice. I just happen to have some KLN which I used initially. I will have faith and be more persistent. As an aside: all these new names! I guess I'm a "clumper" at heart, not a "splitter." Perhaps just resistent to change.

I hear ya, but be open to change. Sometimes it works!

[Helen]

Change is: "who moved my cheese?" Cheese is now in the refrigerator - where it belongs....

Moral of the story: Change Is Good...

[Lagoon]

I agree, It is a robust grower, it really responds to warmer weather. She'll catch up soon enough

I can't believe they changed the name

[Frdemetr]

The Laelia names! An endless soap-opera! Blame it on DNA! I'll try to explain: the mexicans Laelia are aparted (and retain the name) from brazilian Laelias due DNA research, published by Van der Berg et al in 2000. Based in only in certain few DNA sequences this experts group (that included Dressler, a very very important researcher in orchids) concluded that brazilian Laelias would have to be annexed to Sophronitis genera, the older one in cattleya-alliance group that has 8 polen aggregates (cattleya has only 4). What a mess! Since then, several researches have attemped to put some order in caos, but I think in fact they have gotten worse what already was bad: Castro and Chiron (a brazilian and a french) divided the brazilian Laelias in several genera, than Hadrolaelia are the bigger ones (purpurata, lobata etc), Hoffmanseggella and Dungsia are the rupiculous and so on. For me and for many orchid lovers in Brazil and all over the world, Laelia is and will be forever Laelia, doesn't matter what name it receives!