Laelia (Rupiculous) Orchids

[james mickelso]

I'd love to see that flower. This is one of my favorite families of catts. I had two of these when I sold most of my collection a couple years ago along with another called Schilleriana. And a bunch of crosses too. Oh well. My C. Schill's became lethargic when I put it out in full sun here. I put it back in the GH (clear panels with spatters of white paint) and it really took off. Not sure what the diffs are between light levels. Just my experience. Please keep me updated. Thanks.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

I'd love to see that flower. This is one of my favorite families of catts. I had two of these when I sold most of my collection a couple years ago along with another called Schilleriana. And a bunch of crosses too. Oh well. My C. Schill's became lethargic when I put it out in full sun here. I put it back in the GH (clear panels with spatters of white paint) and it really took off. Not sure what the diffs are between light levels. Just my experience. Please keep me updated. Thanks.

Could it have been the humidity and water being the difference? These guys like pretty warm temps too.

As for my aclandiae I'll definitely post here when it blooms. Its an albescens x self that Peter says breeds true so it should be a cool one!

[james mickelso]

In the GH I had lots of heat. Until I painted the roof with white paint to knock down the intensity of the light, it scorched. Once I painted it they had better color and bloomed better.

[MattWoelfsen]

My C.aclandiae arrived. Pictures provide a lot of information, but I couldn't really tell how large or how it looked until I got it. The leaves are a very light green, but not as light green as Steve posted earlier. The plant has outgrown its pot, but I'll wait a month to see how it acclimates. Gently poking into the pot, the top layer is sphagnum moss but the roots are in a lava rock, charcoal mix. It is very healthy.

[MattWoelfsen]

An update. I have finally located my Laelia collection in the brightest area of my grow space. This space gets a lot of eastern sun and then again light from the setting sun. Based on what folks advised earlier, I think this where they will stay for the season.


Laelia by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

[katrina]

Looks good and it sounds like you could even up the light levels a bit more if you find you need more. If they don't bloom for you this next cycle...you might consider more direct sun time next summer.

This year I have gone to full on, direct sun for all my rupics. I'm tired of the majority of them not blooming for me so this summer they are sitting in full sun from around 11am until evening. Of course, this was after a period of acclimation so they didn't burn w/the sudden increase in light levels.

EDIT -- I just noticed...Is that a kerrii in the bottom left corner? If so, be careful w/that one...they appreciate more water and less light. It's not a rupic and does best on the low end of catt light. Much lower than many other cats...definitely WAY lower than rupics.

[MattWoelfsen]

Good eye Katrina! Yes, this is a kerrii, I do get that one watered more often. It is about as red as it could be. I'm thjinking you are right about more light for the rupics...a lot of my rupics are showing either redish leaves or little red spots or red edging on the leaves. The weather has been really nice here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I'm taking your advice and Steve's earlier advice of slowly introducing them to more light. I'll start the migration to more light for the rupics this weekend!

[katrina]

Happy tweaking! I am constantly tweaking things all summer long...as the sun moves or the intensity of the sun changes...tweak, tweak, tweak. But, it's all part of the fun, right?

Oh, and before everyone starts thinking I'm an idiot...yes, yes, yes, I know it's the Earth that's moving not the sun. Just a figure of speech.

[MattWoelfsen]

Tweaking! That is what I do with my free time--moving plants around and finding the right placement for optimum environment.

Here is the new location of my Laelia rupicolous plants. The first two rows are the Laelia. The four rows behind them are Dendrobium moniliforme and behind the Dendrobium are Jewell orchids. Because of my deck's architecture, the Laelia are in direct eastern sun for four hours in the morning, bright light mid-day, and then about four hours of direct western sun. The Dendrobium are in bright light but not direct sun like the Laelia.


Tweaking by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

[isurus79]

Looking good!