Laelia ghillanyi is found in Brazil. It grows wild in the state of Minas Gerais between Serra do Cipo and Conceicao do Mato Dentro between 1500 to 1600 meters in elevation on volcanic rock outcroppings.
Laelia ghillanyi also called as Ghilliany's Laelia, Cattleya ghillanyi, Hoffmannseggella ghillanyi, Sophronitis ghillanyi, is a species of the genus Laelia. This species was described by Guido Frederico João Pabst in 1973.
IDENTIFY LAELIA GHILLANYI ORCHID PLANT
Laelia ghillanyi is found in Brazil. It grows wild in the state of Minas Gerais between Serra do Cipo and Conceicao do Mato Dentro between 1500 to 1600 meters in elevation on volcanic rock outcroppings.
It is a miniature sized, cool to cold growing lithophyte with small, globose, 5-7 cm tall and wider at the base pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, stiff, coriaceous, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 10 to 15 cm long leaf. The foliage is green with a maroon coloration near the edges of the leaves and pseudobulbs.
Ghilliany's Laelia blooms in the spring on a terminal, erect, 20 to 25 cm long, single flowered inflorescence. The flowers are magenta-purple with a pale or white lip, 3 cm in diameter. There are albescens and alba forms of Laelia ghillanyi in existence.
LAELIA GHILLANYI ORCHID PLANT 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 ghillanyi like good light (30000-40000 lux) with about 30-50% shade in summer but no direct sun. They require high light intensity during their dormant period in winter. They like direct morning sun but avoid afternoon light and deep shade.
Temperature:
Ghilliany's Laelia come from environments that have a normal temperature range of 16°C to 24°C with winter temperatures of about 12°C and rarely experience temperatures below 8°C.
Humidity:
This species need good air movement year round. They require moderate to high humidity (50-70%) in summer but low humidity in winter.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Laelia ghillanyi are usually grown in pots. Some growers recommend placing pieces of sandstone in the potting mix if root growth is a problem. Always use the smallest pot possible as they dry faster and large pots increase the risk of root rot.
This species don’t like being disturbed, when they outgrow the pot some growers simply place the plant and its pot into a slightly larger pot (over pot) allowing the roots to fill the space between the two pots. Repotting may be necessary however when the bark becomes decomposed.
Watering:
In their native environment this orchid receive daily rain in summer and so should receive regular watering during the warmer summer and autumn months, preferably daily in hot weather. Plants on slabs should be watered daily in warm weather. This species experience a 2-3 months dry season.
Fertilizer:
Liquid fertilizers should be applied regularly during the growing season but not in winter. Some growers recommend a low nitrogen but high phosphorus fertilizer in late summer and autumn. Liquid seaweed fertilizer can also be applied.
Rest period:
Laelia ghillanyi have a short 2-3 months dry period. Fertilization should be limited or should be completely abandoned until spring, when stronger watering resumes. In the natural habitat, the light is strongest in the dry winter period, so the plants grown need as much winter light as possible.
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