Laelia purpurata var carnea

[Susan]

Last year at our spring show I purchased a bare root Laelia purpurata var carnea from a South American vendor. Right after I planted it it sprouted roots that are now about 10 inches long over the side of the pot. They are still growing exponentially! But the pseudobulbs are withered and no new vegetative growth has started. I can see an eye on the newest bulb, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything.

Suggestions, thoughts?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Be prepared for a slow start. These probably came from south of the equator and are having to shift seasons. I buy a lot of stuff from Floralia in Brazil, and there is always an adustment period where some don't make it at all because the double whammy of being bareroot for a while, and the change in season is just too much for them. Be thankful you have good roots. It will just be a matter of time for you, as your plant is well supported by those roots while adjusting. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[jerrymeola]

L. purpurata is a species that grows tremendous amounts of roots. In a pot it can actually chock itself to death.

I had one for four years and after flowering the first year produced three flower sheats one every six months on a new pseudobulb, but only one produced a flower and the others shriveled on the stem. When I repotted I cut off one dead root at a time until I noticed there were no good roots left, only the rizone. Six months later the pot is full of roots and the new flowers are in full bloom. The roots actually grow away from the sun out eight inches even with the top of the pot.

Most of these I mount on wood and the roots grow clear around the mount.

None, of the about 15 I have left, have shown any leaf growth since last summer. Just this month (85 degrees now in SW Florida) they are all showing new growth. You just have not waited long enuogh yet. They should grow well this summer. By the way it is common for the leaves to be 20-24 inches tall.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Jerry, this is very interesting what you say about root overgrowth and the clogging of the pot. Hope you don't mind my rephrasing. I have had a L. purpurata v carnea for many years, and have never noticed this. However, I repot every year, so that all dead roots get removed every year, and the plant gets divided as soon as possible for space reasons, so I just don't have your problem. I lost this plant to the virus testing that is going on right now, but have a dozen or so seedlings in various stagges of maturity, with oldest about to bloom this year. I will keep an eye open for this pattern, but I don't remember any of these plants sending roots out in a disagreeble manor. Maybe they like my mix and choose to enter it without a fuss. Here is a picture of the one I had. Really hated to loose it. I'm hoping one of the several replacement seedlings will come out a similar color.
http://www.pbase.com/schnitz/image/57225999
Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[jerrymeola]

Cynthia

The difference in the growth of our two plants points out another need for regular repotting.

This orchid was in my personal collection rather than the commercial shadehouse. I tend to let them become overgrown and allow the potting material to decompose and be flushed out of the pot, effectively now growing them bare root in the pot. It works well for many cattleyas but not for purpurata. It is not a method of growing that I recommend to others.

That particular plant had gone four years without repotting.

Another problem with my method for any cattleya is that the growth has a tendancy to grow around the outside of the pot and if too many dead roots are left the center can become leafless. At that point it requires cutting and separating the plant.

I like large specimum plants and this method grows large showy specimums, but at the expense of having to chop the plant apart in the future (usually 5-7 years). Typing this reply gave me the idea to try just cutting the center roots on one I have now that I do not want to separate. Maybe center growth will start. I will let everyone know in about a year.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Hi Jerry. Took a look at my purpuratas, and they are all putting roots into the mix, all sixteen, with a few odd roots over the pot for those few that were not placed properly into the pot, those that are pointed upward in the pots. I'll place the rhysomes more level during the next repotting. I think your wild rooting problem may be more of a local problem, maybe something to do with the Florida weather, or the mix you are using. Or, how about the fertilizer you are using? Maybe it causes very heavy/wild rooting in purpuratas. Cynthia

[jadenson2000]

Have you tried adding a mild solution of Superthrive to the water? Sometimes it helps plants from South America adjust faster.

[kmarch]

Dear Susan,

In order for the plant to grow it must have a healthy root system as this is the source of its water and nutrient intake. It is good that you are getting robust root growth. When the plant is ready with a full healthy root system it will start to grow a new growth. As Cynthia said, it may take some time (I believe your plant was probably heavily stressed) but be patient it will probably eventually get going strong.

Happy Growing!