Laelia anceps - Dry sheath

[rbarata]

So, it's a sheath. That's good news...the first one under my care was really small and dried after two weeks.

I've been placing the plant in a location where it gets direct sun since 08:30 until 16:00 (true south window). As the sun gets higher in the sky, and stop getting inside, I will put it outside...I'm not sure if it can tolerate our sun, which is dangerous for humans most of the days (the climate here is more continental, much more hotter and drier in summer than near the coast).

For now the plant is developing much more purple tinge than before and I've been watering it almost everyday, at 07:30 in the morning (the medium has a lot of drainage, I've used a lot of leka and cork chips mixed with bark - photo bellow).



For the past 2 weeks we are having 100% clear skies and relatively low temps inside at night and it will remain like that for at least two more weeks.
In the meanwhile it is starting to show another new growth.

Any more good tips for this growing stage?

[Roberta]

New growth looks great! When you do move it from inside to outside (once minimum night temperatures are reliably above about 4 deg C (39 deg F) you can safely do so) you will want to increase light as gradually as you can... getting it out in early spring will help, since the sun angle is lower than it will be later, and it will naturally acclimate as the sun gets higher. You will probably always want to protect it a little from the direct sun at mid-day, but both morning and afternoon should be fine if the plant has had a chance to adjust before it gets really bright.

[rbarata]

Well, I could move it now but from March onwards it usually rains a lot while the max temps are still low (maybe around 18 ºC/64 F) as well as the min (6 ºC/42 F).
As I don't have a place where it can be shelterd from the rain I'll have to acclimatize it indoors until the end of April.
Do you think it's enough?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Well, I could move it now but from March onwards it usually rains a lot while the max temps are still low (maybe around 18 ºC/64 F) as well as the min (6 ºC/42 F).
As I don't have a place where it can be shelterd from the rain I'll have to acclimatize it indoors until the end of April.
Do you think it's enough?

Rain should be no problem. with those roots climbing out of the pot, they will be dry within a few hours of getting rained upon. In fact, if you want to repot into a basket, there is still time (with that new growth there will be new roots) Mine are above the Cymbidiums, which like lots of water, and so the area gets watered every two days now and every day in summer. The Cyms are happy in their plastic pots with small bark, staying damp,, and the L. anceps are happy because they dry out quickly. (If I happen to get any rain, they get rained on... this year rain comes out of a pipe, but last year they got lots of rain all winter and didn't seem to care) If it is hanging and can dry out, don't worry about its getting wet.

[Fairorchids]

Missed this thread earlier. I tried to look up the location of Abrantes in Spain. Mapquest shows me 9 locations in Northern Spain, and one in the Southeast.

In 2017 I took my 25+ Laelia anceps outside and placed them in full sun on April 22nd, and left them there till November 20th. They were in full southern exposure without any shade, in Califon, NJ (= 40.7 deg N, at 480' elevation [146 m]).

It rained regularly last season, and we watered twice a week when it didn't rain. The plants showed some minor sun stress on a few leaves, but they all grew & bloomed far better than they have ever done in the greenhouse.

The extreme example was 'Paloma Blanca', a variety alba plant from SBOE. It had 5 mature pseudobulbs, each of which set a new growth; and, all five new growths spiked.

I also put a Lc Miss Wonderful out there (50% anceps hybrid). It grew two new growths, both of which are almost twice the size of anything it did in the greenhouse (see photo, which shows the size & stature of the first new growth).

[Roberta]

L. anceps thrives on abuse! I am sure that the wide temperature range, and bright sun are important factors to bloom them well, and they don't care about humidity one way or another as long as they get a chance to dry out. I am glad to see that they respond to those conditions in a climate very different than mine.

[rbarata]

I tried to look up the location of Abrantes in Spain. Mapquest shows me 9 locations in Northern Spain, and one in the Southeast.

Abrantes is not located in Spain. It's in Portugal, very similar country but very different at the same time (39º 27'N, 8º11'W - elevation 171 m or 562 ft).
There's also a climate table in my signature.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Abrantes is not located in Spain. It's in Portugal, very similar country but very different at the same time (39º 27'N, 8º11'W - elevation 171 m or 562 ft).
There's also a climate table in my signature.

My apologies, should have recognized the flag symbol, but I have lived in the US for too long (40+ years). However, your latitude is very similar to mine, so I suggest that you try the full sun treatment this year.

The key is to get the plants outside so early, that they do not burn. In NJ that translates to about 3rd week of April. In Portugal, probably 2nd week of April.

[rbarata]

So far it's still inside but, as min temps get higher, I'll move it outside.
Now it has getting 7 hrs/day of sun, large south window with no sheers of curtains.
Here's some photos. They don't show the real purple color, as it's much more intense.
Notice also the color of the new growth.

I think it's going on the right track!

[Roberta]

Beautiful! That sheath will tease you for many months. It seems very early for a sheath, but since I grow them outdoors all winter, they may wait longer than one that gets less abuse.