Help: Laelia anceps in situ - Orchid Board

weng · #1 (**permalink**) 12-24-2006, 01:38 PM

Can anyone tell me about the weather when Laelia anceps flowers?

According to the articles I have read, winter is very dry, and humidity is so low that dewpoint is not reached. But L. anceps flowers are covered with gooey slime that needs to be washed off - frequently! How does that happen in situ?

Weng

justatypn · #2 (**permalink**) 12-24-2006, 02:00 PM

Without the humidity, the extreme dryness causes the sheath on each bud to dry up. They have a sticky substance inside around the bud that is slick and lets the bud develop and slide out.
But with the dry weather, no humidity, this sticky substance turns to glue and literally glues the
flower bud shut and they will abort in that position, almost ready to open, if not moistened every day. So daily misting is vital. I have heard that prior to blooming soaking weekly will help, misting during blooming. Hope this helps....

orcdfrk · #3 (**permalink**) 12-24-2006, 02:44 PM

Weng, I currently have a laelia anceps in spike right now; actually 2 spikes with 3 buds each and I mist/spray the buds every morning in order to help get rid of that 'glue'. And now that the buds are of a decent size I have split open the sheaths around each bud to help it along. Not sure if that was the right thing to do but they seem to be progressing nicely.

weng · #4 (**permalink**) 12-24-2006, 05:06 PM

Thank you Cheryl and Orcdfrk. I have to spray the buds and remove the bracts too. The brittle sepals sometimes need a bit of help too, and I broke one of these yesterday

. But this sort of human intervention is exactly what prompted the question. How do these things flower in their natural arid state?

Weng

jim blanford · #5 (**permalink**) 12-25-2006, 06:35 PM

Here is my LAELIA anceps. I also had to keep the sheath moist it looked like it needed some help, but it came out fine. Jim.

orcdfrk · #6 (**permalink**) 12-25-2006, 06:43 PM

That looks great Jim. Like I said, I have 2 spikes with 3 blooms each and I'll post pics when they're open. How big are the flowers? This will be the first time blooming for me...can't wait.

jim blanford · #7 (**permalink**) 12-25-2006, 07:12 PM

The flowers are 3 3/4 in.W X 4 1/2 in. H. and a nice color. Jim.

justatypn · #8 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 06:40 PM

Nice one Jim

It was my understanding not to spray buds is this Laelia and exception to the rule?

jim blanford · #9 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 09:34 PM

Cheryl. I could see thru the sheath the flower stems were starting to curl, so would wipe off the sticky stuff and it all worked out fine. Jim.

Barbara · #10 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 09:40 PM

We had a flower rot in the sheath once when water got inside. So if this happens now, we cut open the sheath so it can breath. The Lealia tribe seem to like warmth when it is humid.