Laelia purpurata care and culture

Laelia purpurata is native to Brazil. They were found on a narrow stretch of swampy coastal plain, but now it is known that its natural habitat extends east from Santos and further south...

 Laelia purpurata also called as Purple-stained Laelia, Amalia purpurea, Bletia casperiana, Bletia purpurata, Bletia purpurata var. aurorae, Brasilaelia purpurata, Cattleya brysiana, Cattleya casperiana, Cattleya purpurata, Chironiella purpurata, Hadrolaelia purpurata, Hadrolaelia purpurata f. virginalis, Laelia casperiana, Laelia purpurata var. blenheimense, Laelia purpurata var. nelisii, Laelia purpurata var. praetexta, Laelia purpurata var. rosea, Laelia purpurata var. russelliana, Laelia purpurata var. virginalis, Laelia russelliana, Laelia wyattiana, Sophronitis purpurata, is a species of the genus Laelia. This species was described by John Lindley in 1852-1853.

IDENTIFY LAELIA PURPURATA

 Laelia purpurata is native to Brazil. They were found on a narrow stretch of swampy coastal plain, but now it is known that its natural habitat extends east from Santos and further south through the states of Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, all the way to the south of Porto Alegre . In Rio Grande do Sul, the plants grow on huge old trees, somewhat inland, a small distance from the sea, in Santa Catarina they meet on stunted bush on the rocky hills facing the sea, while in Sao Paulo grows in marshy areas.

© KENPEI | CC BY-SA 3.0

 It is a medium sized, hot to cool growing epiphyte, which reaching a height of about 100 cm, with a single leaf, high in the canopy of wooded hillsides, with clavate, 60 cm in length pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, oblong-ligulate, leathery, erect, rounded at the apex, 30-38 cm long and 5 cm wide leaf.

 Purple-stained Laelia blooms in the late spring through fall on a stout, 12 to 15" (30 to 37.5 cm) long, raceme subtended by a large sheath with 3 to 7 long-lasting, showy, fragrant, color variable flowers with an anise scent. The flowers are usually 15-20 cm in diameter, but exceptionally they can reach up to 25 cm. The color of the flowers is extremely variable. The petals of both whorls may be white to light pink or dark amethyst purple, sometimes with darker veins. The inner whorls are sometimes darker than the outer whorls. The part of the lip at the base is usually whitish on the outside, but its interior is pale to pale yellow with purple lines. These lines diverge, except for the middle three, which are arranged in parallel. The large middle plot is usually velvety-purple and has some veins in a chestnut-purple color.

LAELIA PURPURATA CARE AND CULTURE

 Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.

Light:

 Laelia purpurata needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. These plants are able to tolerate even direct sunlight with a strong air movement.

© Arne and Bent Larsen | CC BY-SA 2.5 DK

Temperature:

 It is a thermophilic plant. In summer, the average day temperature is 30-31 ° C, night 18-20 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 11-12 ° C. In winter, the average daytime temperatures are 19-20 ° C and the night 9-10 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 10 ° C.

Humidity:

 Purple-stained Laelia needs the humidity of 70-80% for most of the year, it falls to nearly 65% ​​for 2-3 months of late spring and early summer.

Substrate, growing media and repotting:

 Laelia purpurata grow well attached to pieces of tree ferns, if you can provide high humidity, and during the summer they will be irrigated at least once a day. In the period of extremely hot and dry weather, attached plants may require even several waterings during the day.

 They can also grow in small pots or baskets filled with a very thick, loose, quickly drying base that allows the roots to dry quickly after watering. The best pots are sufficient for room growth for 1-2 years. The substrate in larger pots for too long maintains the moisture around the roots after watering, which can lead to their rotting. It is recommend bark with medium or high gradation, to which you can mix perlite and medium or large pieces of charcoal.

 Repotting or dividing plants should be done when the growth of new roots begins.

Watering:

 Laelia purpurata should be watered frequently, especially during active growth, but before the next watering, the roots should be slightly dried. The amount of water can be slightly reduced over time and just after flowering, but the plants can never be dry for a longer period of time.

Fertilizer:

 During the active growth of the plants should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is beneficial from spring to mid-summer, and a fertilizer richer in phosphorus should be used in late summer and autumn.

Rest period:

 In winter, the amount of water should be slightly reduced, especially if the temperatures are low and in the case of plants cultivated in the conditions of a dark, short day that occurs in moderate latitudes. However, these plants should never be dried. New growths ripen in winter and during this period the plants should not be watered excessively. Fertilization should be limited or should be completely eliminated until spring, when new roots emerge.

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