repotting ideas for new mini laelia?

[tangers40]

i recently purchased a lil teeny Laelia harpophylla (a miniature) from fantasy orchids in denver. right now, it's in a small square pot, probably about 3 inches with some small bark it appears. it only has a couple stalks (if it has pseudobulbs, they're too small to see), but does have a small new growth coming in. i'd like to repot it but not sure what to do with something so small. i have: bark/charcoal/perlite mix (pretty chunky), sphag, hydroton, and also a couple small pieces of driftwood. what would be the best? i've never mounted an orchid before, but there's a first time for everything i guess. i can provide pics as well if needed.

[kmarch]

Laelia harpophylla is one of the Brazilian Laelias but not one of the rock laelias so it should do well with general cattleya culture. You could probably grow it mounted if you wish or potted using a fairly dry mix of bark, perilite and charcoal.

[willowbanks]

Hello Tangers40, your Laelia harpophylla was changed to Sophronitis harpophylla 9 years ago and is not what is classed as a miniature, it is a medium sized plant.

This species grows relatively cool and moist (not wet) at 500 to 900 above sea level.

Is there any chance of a photo of your plant??? sounds like it may still be too small for a repot.

Bill

[tangers40]

man, i'm all sorts of confused. anyway. here's my lil guy. it has apparently bloomed before since there's an old spike i have yet to cut off. was told by the nursery that it's an adult sized/full grown/blooming size plant, thereby making it a miniature. their tag also had (miniature) on it after the name. i will admit they may be wrong, however.

should i repot it? if anything, i guess i'd like to get it higher out of the pot.

[willowbanks]

I can understand your confusion about your plant being a miniature or a medium sized plant, it has a lot of growing yet to do before it reaches full maturity. You just can't believe what some nurseries/sellers tell you, it is easy to check for yourself and I think you should take a look at the link below.

IOSPE PHOTOS

From your photos it appears to be growing in a slimy mess and it would be a very good idea to repot it.

If it were my plant, I would use the same tube but bring the bark level up to the rim inside. Media would be 2/3 medium chunky bark and 1/3 foam broken up to similar sizes as the bark. The bark and foam is a mixture through out the pot, not put in as layers of each.

Bill

[kmarch]

Terms like "mini" "medium" "miniature" and others that refer to the size of an orchid are all relative, not standardized and will differ depending on who you talk to. There's no official designation for these terms. Sometimes folks do buy immature plants and think they've bought miniatures.

Regarding Soph harpophylla, I have not been able to find any info on the size of a mature growth but I have always understood them to be on the smaller side.

I recommend caution when using info on the IOSPE. It's not a refereed site. Submissions are taken as accurate. I've found volumes of mistakes on that site. I'd recommend using one of the good general orchid encyclopedias instead.

[tangers40]

Originally Posted by willowbanks

From your photos it appears to be growing in a slimy mess and it would be a very good idea to repot it.
Bill

actually, i had literally just watered it maybe 10 minutes before i took the pics and then had to use the flash. i actually am having a hard time keeping moisture IN it. but yes, it needs a repot. ty for the suggestions.

[jay]

Personally I like using only Hydroton for the Cattleya. I have found them to like it a lot. Your plant appears to have a new growth starting, which means it will putting out new roots soon too. This would be a good type to repot into the S/H if you try that method.

[tangers40]

Originally Posted by kmarch

I'd recommend using one of the good general orchid encyclopedias instead.

can you recommend one of those for me? i'm always interested in learning.

[tangers40]

Originally Posted by jay

Personally I like using only Hydroton for the Cattleya. I have found them to like it a lot. Your plant appears to have a new growth starting, which means it will putting out new roots soon too. This would be a good type to repot into the S/H if you try that method.

actually, i was highly considering that, if i can find a clear pot small enough. i can use the pot it's in but i think i'd rather find a clear one. i found some perfect s/h pots that are actually disposable ziploc containers for my bigger phals and den, but haven't seen anything smaller that will work. i'll definitely see what i can find however. the den needs a repot and it's going in s/h too, so i might as well do them both at the same time.

[hulaorchid]

I have a laelia ancep. I love mine! It is mounted and its growing like wild!!
I think yours would probable love s/h too! Good luck!

[jerrymeola]

Your photos show the plant does have well developed pseudobulbs. Like many Laelia the pbulbs are relativly thin.

I would not use a "pretty chunky" mix for this plant. It would adapt over time but most of the roots would be in air right after a re-pot and separated from the moisture on the bark.

Segovia brand is a very good quality fine bark worth finding.

[willowbanks]

Well there you have it Tangers40, two differing views on how to pot your plant.

Don't be mislead about Jerry's "pretty chunky mix" quote, that to me means a large size mix. My suggestion was " Media would be 2/3 medium chunky bark and 1/3 foam broken up to similar sizes as the bark." Chunky in this context means solid not large as per the Oxford Dictionary.

Bottom line,

I would use medium bark and foam.

Jerry says fine bark.

I know, it doesn't help you much when you have two of us with different views on how to pot your plant, we obviously grow under different conditions.

Pot your plant the way you think best suits you, success or failure means you have learnt something for the future.

Good luck
Bill

[tangers40]

Originally Posted by willowbanks

Well there you have it Tangers40, two differing views on how to pot your plant.

Pot your plant the way you think best suits you, success or failure means you have learnt something for the future.

Good luck
Bill

thank you everybody for your help. i still haven't decided what to do. and i'm certainly a newbie, so i'm still experimenting with everything. if i kill it, i kill it. i will try my best not to, but if i do, it's not the end of the world

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by tangers40

can you recommend one of those for me? i'm always interested in learning.

I own Alex Pridgeon's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids and Botanica's Orchids. In this case, with Soph. harpophylla, the Botanica book is better as it gives some cultural advice.