Laelia

[winky]

I got my first Laelia last summer. It is a cross with a name too long to type. It has put up a growth which, from experience with other orchids, I am fairly sure is not a flower stem. I'd love to have someone tell me I'm wrong. Please!

[kmarch]

Laelias first grow a new growth (pseudobulb with leaf) then flower from the apex of that new growth (assuming blooming conditions are met). So in a sense this is both. It is certainly a new plant growth and it also has the potential to bloom from this growth once it is mature. Every new growth like yours has the potential to bloom.

My Laelia dayana just finished blooming and is now resting before it starts its next growing/blooming cycle.

Keep us posted on its progress, with pics if possible. It is often very helpful for other growers, especially new ones, to see how our plants grow and bloom.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

When it gets out just a little longer, you might want to use some twist tie material to train the new growth to be just a little more verticle. It is headed just a little to much sideways. Note the other pseudobulbs are all vertical.

[jerrymeola]

Laelia grow in all directions and can be trained within limits. They will never will an award for best leaf growth.

The new growth looks very good and based on the size of the older bulbs, the plant looks to be blooming size.

The next new growth will come out of this bulb. Cattleya grow in one direction alone a rhizome.

[winky]

Thanks, all. I will indeed try to train the new growth into a more vertical position just to keep the pot upright. As it grows I'll post a picture now and again.
The plant is in a green house now and short of putting in on the window ledge there is no way to provide more light. I'm afraid to do that. As the sun gets brighter I will have to lower the shades to keep things from burning but I'll make sure it is where it can get morning sun at a distance from the side glass of about two feet. I'm looking forward to seeing it bloom.

[BillC]

Winky, according to the tag on your laelia it is a cross of the Coerulea (blue) forms of the hardy species Laelia anceps and Cattleya intermedia var. Aquinii (the splash petal variety). And if it blooms for you it will look something like this :

[winky]

Thanks Bill. I'm embarrassed that you went to the trouble to read that tag when I was too lazy to type it. It's a pretty orchid and I'm looking forward to seeing it should I get so lucky as to bloom it.