Laelia anceps not doing anything
 

Hello,

About 4 months ago, I bought a Laelia anceps from the clearance section of my local nursery in a 6 inch pot. I was going to wait for it to produce new growth before repotting, but it has not produced any in the time I have gotten it. I am watering and fertilising it like I do with my other cattleya types, but I am having no success. The orchid fills the entire pot, so should it be repotted to ensure new growths? or does something else need to be done?

Thank you for your time and help,

Nicolas D. Perez

L anceps tends to start spiking in the late summer. Then they'll root and grow after that. I find that the best time for repotting, mounting, etc. is anywhere from November to February (depending on the plant). You'll just have to watch it, when the new roots just start to emerge (or when you can feel them as little bumps), that's the time. I have found that these do best for me in baskets with little or no medium (large bark is OK) or mounted. They absolutely need to dry out between waterings, that's where this approach to potting/mounting pays off - they can be watered a lot as long as they dry out in a few hours. Very bright light (even full sun if acclimated... I have never toasted a L. anceps, they're really tough)

Patience, Nicolas, patience!:)

Put a sturdy wire hanger on the pot and hang it under a tree casting dappled shade. Don't repot; let it grow out of the pot and wrap around it.

Thank you all for your help, I will work on my patience :biggrin:

---------- Post added at 07:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:25 PM ----------

I have heard that Laelia anceps is very temperature tolerant, but I am still nervous to put my orchids outside. I live in zone 9b, do you think this would suffice? My outside temperatures right now are currently 40-70 degrees Fahrenheit and my indoor (where i currently grow) ranges from 70-85 Fahrenheit.

L anceps is good down to freezing or a bit below if acclimated. You likely will want to bring in for the coldest winter months, when frost is likely. Once night temps get into the 40's F it will be fine. Like now... I don't think that you can keep it happy indoors for more than those coldest months. It needs very high light (like full sun), fresh air, and rapid drying. L. anceps tolerates, and even wants and needs, conditions more severe than what you'd want for most members of the Cattleya tribe. (The light that keeps a L. anceps happy would toast leaves on Catts)

I grow mine hanging above the Cymbidiums - the brightest part of the yard. Winter temps do go down to 40 and occasionally lower. They also are fine with summers in the triple digits F. As I think I mentioned above, I have never burnt leaves on a L. anceps though they get the brightest light all day long all summer... I have toasted Catts with a lot less.

Do you live in coastal southern California? If so it will be fine outdoors.

Wow that’s pretty amazing how hardy they are. I will definitely experiment with putting it outside. Thank you so much.

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:53 PM ----------

Not currently, right now I am in coastal Northern California. Do you think outdoor conditions will suffice?

How far north are you? Does it ever get down to freezing where you are?

Frost is the "decider" ... L. anceps is OK down to about 29 deg F for a few hours overnight, as long as it warms up during the day.