The Orchid Garden

Laelia

Question:

Laelia purpurata and Laelia anceps I know well. Anceps is marginally less impossible to kill than purpurata. The flower shoots are quite distinctive. Purpurata’s is plainly pouch-like with the buds protected inside as the shoot develops. Purpurata is also unifoliate – one leaf only per pseudobulb. Anceps is semi-bifoliate and the flower comes out of the centre on a shoot. Purpurata flower: Raceme to 12 in. long. 3 – 7 fleshy frilly flowers, 3 – 4 in. in diameter.White to white tinged pink with lip white at apex purple towards base yellow with purple veins in throat. There is another form which is deep violet. Spring/summer. Comes from Brazil, it’s a Specie. Anceps flower: Raceme to 12 – 24 in. 3 – 6 flowered. 2 – 3 in. diameter. Magenta or rose lilac. Lip deep purple tinged with pink and yellow in the throat. There’s a white tinged or wholly white form. Many variants have been described. Winter. Another specie from Mexico and Honduras. Cultivation: L. purpurata as for unifoliate Cattleyas. Shade only from direct sun. If the leaves are very dark and lush you’ve probably got them shaded too much, if they’re yellowish you’ve too much sunlight. L. anceps are able to withstand lower temperatures than most down to 45 F. I’ve never gone this far. They are pretty tolerant of conditions but will be happy with your purpuratas. Both will put up with less humid conditions than some orchids but 60 – 70 percent RH should be okay. They won’t like stuffy conditions. Water only when new roots are growing strongly. Do not water if the compost is obviously wet. (This is a matter of learning) After flowering gradually reduce water until it is almost dried out. Rest at this point until growth restarts. Nevertheless it is not advisable to let the pseudobulbs become over shrivelled. Do not get water on young shoots. Do not spray. Adrian Cooke UK

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have had for a few months, a laelia purpurata and a laelia anceps.  I have no information on when they bloom or what the flower spike looks like.  One of the new leaves which sprouted has a sheaf coming out of it but it looks like another series of leaves.  Is that going to be a flower spike?  Any info would be appreciated. Gzella8135

Response:

We grow L. purpurata under a painted glass roof only and temperatures get at or just below freezing at least once a year.  They started blooming for us in mid-July.  The L. anceps grow unprotected and can take temps. down to 27F.  L. anceps generally are in bloom by Thanksgiving, however, last year they were late and many didn’t bloom until after Christmas. We have a free pamphlet devoted exclusively to Laelia anceps, listing all of our different varieties.  We are currently in the process of developing one for Laelia purpurata. We also have the following pamphlets/lists available – all free *Species – about 1000 available Cymbidium culture including species *Famous name cymbidiums, many awarded, standard and miniature Laelias Cattleyas Phalaenopsis Hybrid Reed-Stem Epidendrums Schomburgkias Lycastes/Anguloas *Outdoor growers – cold tolerant In-Home Growing – coming soon! *Available at our website.  E-mail requests today! — Matt Swift AOL Instant Messenger – "Tolumnia1" employed at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate Website: http://www.sborchid.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Laelia purpurata and Laelia anceps I know well. Anceps is marginally less impossible to kill than purpurata. The flower shoots are quite distinctive. Purpurata’s is plainly pouch-like with the buds protected inside as the shoot develops. Purpurata is also unifoliate – one leaf only per pseudobulb. Anceps is semi-bifoliate and the flower comes out of the centre on a shoot. Purpurata flower: Raceme to 12 in. long. 3 – 7 fleshy frilly flowers, 3 – 4 in. in diameter.White to white tinged pink with lip white at apex purple towards base yellow with purple veins in throat. There is another form which is deep violet. Spring/summer. Comes from Brazil, it’s a Specie. Anceps flower: Raceme to 12 – 24 in. 3 – 6 flowered. 2 – 3 in. diameter. Magenta or rose lilac. Lip deep purple tinged with pink and yellow in the throat. There’s a white tinged or wholly white form. Many variants have been described. Winter. Another specie from Mexico and Honduras. Cultivation: L. purpurata as for unifoliate Cattleyas. Shade only from direct sun. If the leaves are very dark and lush you’ve probably got them shaded too much, if they’re yellowish you’ve too much sunlight. L. anceps are able to withstand lower temperatures than most down to 45 F. I’ve never gone this far. They are pretty tolerant of conditions but will be happy with your purpuratas. Both will put up with less humid conditions than some orchids but 60 – 70 percent RH should be okay. They won’t like stuffy conditions. Water only when new roots are growing strongly. Do not water if the compost is obviously wet. (This is a matter of learning) After flowering gradually reduce water until it is almost dried out. Rest at this point until growth restarts. Nevertheless it is not advisable to let the pseudobulbs become over shrivelled. Do not get water on young shoots. Do not spray. Adrian Cooke UK I have had for a few months, a laelia purpurata and a laelia anceps.  I have no information on when they bloom or what the flower spike looks like.  One of the new leaves which sprouted has a sheaf coming out of it but it looks like another series of leaves.  Is that going to be a flower spike?  Any info would be appreciated. Gzella8135

Response:

I have had for a few months, a laelia purpurata and a laelia anceps.  I have no information on when they bloom or what the flower spike looks like.  One of the new leaves which sprouted has a sheaf coming out of it but it looks like another series of leaves.  Is that going to be a flower spike?  Any info would be appreciated. Gzella8135

I am new at this myself, but, yes…I do believe that the sheath coming from your L. Anceps is to ultimately contain the flower bud and spike.  I sure hope so, I have 3 of them on my L. anceps and am waiting for that moment. Howard

Response:

I have had for a few months, a laelia purpurata and a laelia anceps.  I have no information on when they bloom or what the flower spike looks like.  One of the new leaves which sprouted has a sheaf coming out of it but it looks like another series of leaves.  Is that going to be a flower spike?  Any info would be appreciated. Gzella8135

Response:

I grow both of those outside here in central California. L. anceps blooms in early winter. L. purpurata is in bloom from May on when grown outside, earlier when grown in a greenhouse. Happy growing. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have had for a few months, a laelia purpurata and a laelia anceps.  I have no information on when they bloom or what the flower spike looks like.  One of the new leaves which sprouted has a sheaf coming out of it but it looks like another series of leaves.  Is that going to be a flower spike?  Any info would be appreciated. Gzella8135

Response:

Filed under: Cymbidium Orchids

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