rupicolous laelia potting?

[Hornet]

I've had this little guy for a few years now, it never really did much as it was potted in bark. I decided to re-pot it, i put leca pellets and fish tank gravel in a clay pot for drainage and nestled the orchid between 2 rocks hoping that would do it better but its still not doing that well. Any tips?

[digitalgate]

hmmm interesting.

[krpot]

I don't know anything about this species but I heard rocks can cause air flow problems.

[kmarch]

I'm not growing any of these at the moment but when i see them, they're usually being grown in gravel.

[BluPeaches]

Well rupicolous means they live in rocks...

[BluPeaches]

Mine is potted in gravel and it gets sun all day except mid day.

[Hornet]

what kinda gravel? I unpotted this one and its roots had rotted off, obviously the gravel i had it growing in was unacceptable

[Bolero]

I am with Kevin on this as well, use gravel if you can. I have had huge problems growing these but have only ever tried in bark and coconut with absolutely no success.

[kmarch]

Pea gravel with very little water, a little more when in growth.

[katrina]

I have a few of these. So far, I'm great at growing roots and leaves...but I haven't managed (yet) to bloom them all.

I tried mounted but it was too dry and my roots tips kept turning brown. I now have them all in teeny clay pots w/granite "chips". They do grow on rocks in nature and it's an absolute must that they drain/dry quickly. Or, as you experienced, the roots will rot.

I water them just about every day during the Summer and less in the winter.

They do like LOTS of light. In nature, some even grow in full sun.

Hope that helps.

[Brooke]

I grow all of mine in leca (Prime Agra) and give them lots of light. Fertilizer is a must year round.

Since it is spring in AussieLand, you should get new growth starting which will give you new roots.

Brooke

[Hornet]

alright i shall get the little guy into leca tomorrow . Also i purchased it as Laelia kettieana but insted of pink flowers this little guy has gorgeous white and yellow blooms so i'm thinking its an alba or a different species, will post pics in the photo section

[syndywindy]

I have several and they are all in a combination of gravel chips and hydroton, with a couple larger pebbles mixed in. I have one alaorii which jsut bloomed recently mounted. A lot of water in summer and now i am giving less but I also give a lot of light. I don't think from what I've seen these are fast growing orchids. I would find a nice bright spot where you can give it some direct sun and see what happens.