Laelia milleri comes from Brazil. It grows rupicolous lithophyte on iron ore outcroppings in Minas Gerais or on the base of Vellozia shrubs at elevations of 800 to 1300 meters above sea level.
Laelia milleri also called as Miller's Laelia, Cattleya milleri, Hoffmannseggella milleri, Sophronitis milleri, is a species of the genus Laelia. This species was described by Almiro Blumenschein in 1960.
IDENTIFY LAELIA MILLERI ORCHID PLANT
Laelia milleri comes from Brazil. It grows rupicolous lithophyte on iron ore outcroppings in Minas Gerais or on the base of Vellozia shrubs at elevations of 800 to 1300 meters above sea level.
It is a miniature sized warm to cool growing lithophyte with clustered, flask shaped, 6 cm high, widest at the base pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, ovate-oblong, acute, rigid, erect, dark green tinged with purple, keeled below, 10 cm long leaf. The leaf is borne at an angle to the pseudobulb, not in line with it, and the foliage of most plants has a deep maroon flush, particularly on the backs of the leaves.
Miller's Laelia blooms in the late spring and early summer on a erect, 30 to 50 cm long, several to many flowered, racemose inflorescence with successively opening flowers, held well above the leaves. The blood- or range-red starry flowers approach 5.0 cm in diameter. The lip is usually yellow with cinnabar-colored veining and varying width picotee. There are two color types, one group has narrower sepals and petals, slightly larger flowers and an orange-red color. The other group has slightly smaller flowers with wider sepals and petals and their color is a more blood-red.
LAELIA MILLERI 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 milleri 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:
Miller'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 milleri 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 milleri 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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