Laelia tenebrosa - Stalled growth

[rbarata]

Tenebrosa blooms from green sheaths. This means that if it gets dry it won't bloom. At least, that's my assumption (that I don't if it's correct).
I'm asking this due to my low RH. I water it every day in summer. Now temps are lower and I mist it with a spray bottle twice a day (whole plant, roots and leaves) and by night time I move it to a spot near an open window which allows humidity to raise into something like 50 to 55 %.

[Roberta]

Just don't assume that a brown sheath won't bloom... it can pleasantly surprise you.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by rbarata

I think it will stay green until blooming, right?
If it gets dry, I suppose it won't bloom.

Not sure rbarata. My tenebrosa - that's the one I bought while on the short holiday trip to Brisbane in January developed a new bulb ---- and a sheath then grew from that, and can't remember how long that sheath has been idling for hahaha. Maybe for say 4 months ---- could be more actually. It is still reasonably green. Slightly ---- very slightly yellow now - just a touch, but this orchid does get a fair bit of direct sun.

Every once in a while, I just take a peek down at the base to see if there's any swelling or shadows (from buds). That's only for curiosity hehehe.

My approach is the 'will believe it when I see it' approach (for my orchids only that is).

So even if buds do form, I only start building up expections when the buds actually open up and the flower comes out! But always keeping optimistic of course!!! Optimism is good.

[SouthPark]

I should have written down roughly when the sheath formed on mine! Just estimating 4 months for now. It has been quite a while though.

Only for info sharing - just showing the slightly yellow sheath in pics taken half an hour ago. The phone-pics appear to be slightly - ever so slightly out of focus - on the sheath that is! Really poor auto-focus in low light conditions - even with 1 pic using camera flash.

Link 1, Link 2

[SouthPark]

After quite long time of no activity ----- there is finally something happening in the sheath.

The 'silhouette' at the base of the sheath is getting longer and longer. And the base of the sheath is starting to thicken. Shared update only ----- as in, it is true what everybody here mentioned about the generally really long time of inactivity for tenebrosa sheaths.

Google drive link (higher res):

Pic 1 link

Pic 2 link

The first pic was taken under low light with my old mobile phone, which doesn't perform well under low light conditions. The second pic was taken using a different camera ----- a few days earlier in the morning

[SouthPark]

Fingers crossed that the silhouette keeps growing and progresses to flowering stage.

[rbarata]

Mine is still has a few months to go...some photos...

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Fingers crossed that the silhouette keeps growing and progresses to flowering stage.

Based on what it does where I live, I would expect January, or the first part of February in the southern hemisphere. So getting (relatively) close.

[Jeff214]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

After quite long time of no activity ----- there is finally something happening in the sheath.

The 'silhouette' at the base of the sheath is getting longer and longer. And the base of the sheath is starting to thicken. Shared update only ----- as in, it is true what everybody here mentioned about the generally really long time of inactivity for tenebrosa sheaths.

Google drive link (higher res):

Pic 1 link

Pic 2 link

The first pic was taken under low light with my old mobile phone, which doesn't perform well under low light conditions. The second pic was taken using a different camera ----- a few days earlier in the morning

Congrats on "something" happening - it was similar with my L. cripsa. It would just sit there doing nothing for close to 6 months and all of a sudden, wham! I'd say the wait makes the blooms feel even more rewarding.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Mine is still has a few months to go...some photos...

Looking excellent rbarata!

Originally Posted by Roberta

Based on what it does where I live, I would expect January, or the first part of February in the southern hemisphere. So getting (relatively) close.

Nice prediction Roberta! I think it is a good prediction, as this one was purchased while flowering in January of this year. Just providing the update to confirm what you taught us in the past - about this kind of orchid can take quite a while to prepare themselves for some spiking activity.

Totally agree with surprises from brown sheaths too. I think I recall a hybrid catt .... Rth. Dal's Success ..... which I assumed was curtains for its sheath. I usually just leave spikes and sheaths even after flowering ------- and the dried brown sheath was just left there. And then one day ...... that surprise thing. Spike coming out. Know just what you mean!!!

Originally Posted by Jeff214

Congrats on "something" happening - it was similar with my L. crispa. It would just sit there doing nothing for close to 6 months and all of a sudden, wham! I'd say the wait makes the blooms feel even more rewarding.

Thanks Jeff!!! Half a year is incredible hahaha. It is certainly a long time. I like that description too, about 'wham!!!!'. It's like a knock-out punch, but a nice surprise knock-out! The wait is nice! That kind of thing is really nice.