Broken tag says ...ella puehella

[Jazmyne]

Picked this tiny thing up st the Portland Orchid Show this weekend. Wasn't paying much attention as I plucked this one up on my way out. Got home and realized the tag was broken and the name is not complete. I've done some digging and "think" it's a sophronitella.

Dude at the booth said this is as big as it gets.

Anyone else have a better idea of what it is?

[AnonYMouse]

Isabelia (Neolauchea) pulchella?

I have a Sophronitella and it doesn't grow like that. They are related, though.

[Jazmyne]

Googled it. Those pictures look much more like my plant. Thank you.

[Pattywack]

Anonymouse is correct, Isabeila pulchella (neolauchea). It will grow longer and branch out, you can take cuttings easily though you need to have 6 or 8 bulbs per cutting. I would let it grow as is and maybe help it to grow around the mount. They have beautiful deep pink flowers. Mine does not like to dry out, I mist it daily sometimes twice a day. Neat little orchid!

[Jazmyne]

Thanks for the response. This one looks pretty parched. I'll be sure to water/mist it regularly. No intention of taking cuttings any time soon.

[estación seca]

I've seen plants people got from somebody else, and they slavishly copied out the label that had missing letters, or completely misspelled words, and they didn't know enough about plant names to fix the name on their own. This happens a lot.

[Bohata]

Shriveled p-bulbs but healthy roots. Yup, it's thirsty! It'll be nice when it plumps up! Post a pic when it blooms!

[Jazmyne]

Yeah. It's very parched. But I've been soaking it daily and the bulbs are starting to plump and the roots are looking better.
The vendor at the show specifically said he limits water and fertilizer on all of his plants because he doesn't want them getting too big. He seemed quite proud of that. Told visitors that his orchids were much hardier that way and they don't need to worry about watering them so much.
Kinda reminded me about pig breeders not feeding their pigs properly to stunt their growth.
SMH

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Jazmyne

...
The vendor at the show specifically said he limits water and fertilizer on all of his plants because he doesn't want them getting too big.

Just wait until you live in a studio apartment and fall in love with Sobralias.

[Optimist]

Neolauchea pulchella (Isabelia pulchella) Sadly no one benefits when the seller spells the name wrong on the tag.