Laelia Orchids Indoor Care; Watering, Light, Soil, Propagation, Problems
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Laelia Orchids are popular orchids grown for their large, strikingly colorful flowers and ease of care. The flowers comprise of petals which are of a thinner texture than the sepals but both are of similar shape but the sepals are narrower. The lip (lowermost petal) is free from the arched flower.
Laelia Orchids are compact, mostly herbaceous plants with a laterally compressed pseudobulbs. One to four leathery or fleshy leaves are born near the top of each pseudobulb. The leaves are broadly ovate to oblong.
Botanical name: Laelia
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Laeliinae
Origin
Laelia is a genus of orchids found in areas of subtropical or temperate climate in Central and South America, mostly in Mexico from sea level to mountain forests.
Majority of Laelia Orchids grow on trees (epiphytes) and a few grow on rocks (lithophytes). It is important to research the particular Laelia Orchid you have in order to determine its specific requirements.
The high elevation varieties of Laelia Orchids will require cooler temperatures and plenty of sunlight. Lower elevation varieties of Laelia Orchids will benefit from higher temperatures. Laelia Orchid varieties from the tropical forests require warmer temperatures and higher humidity.
The genus is abbreviated L in trade journals. Most of the Laelia Orchids available today are hybrids. Pink, white, red and purple flowered varieties are available.
Related Plants
Laelia Orchids are closely related to the genera Cattleya and Brassavola with which they have been used extensively in hybridization.
Are Laelia Orchids toxic?
No. Laelia Orchids are non-toxic to both humans and pets. They are safe to grow in a home with children, cats, dogs and other pets.
Are Laelia Orchids easy to care for?
Yes, Laelia orchids are moderately easy to care for indoors. They tolerate slight watering mistakes better than many orchids but require bright light and good airflow to bloom reliably.
Where to Buy Orchids
If you would like to add Laelia Orchids to your collection, you may acquire them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Laelia Orchids Care Indoors
To care for Laelia Orchids indoors, provide bright indirect light of at least 10 hours per day, warmth of 18-290C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained orchids soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.
Repotting Laelia Orchids is needed when it has outgrown its pot and the new growth reaches out over the edge of the pot. Pruning is necessary to keep it neat as well as encourage more blooms. Keep reading for a detailed account on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Light Requirements
How much light does a Laelia Orchid need?
Laelia Orchid grows best in bright indirect light of at least 10 hours per day; a spot infront of a large, brightly-lit window that receives light through out the day is perfect. Ensure that no direct sunlight falls on the plant to avoid scorching of the leaves. You may use a light curtain or sheer to diffuse the sunrays.
If the light is too low the orchid will exhibit leggy growth, yellowing and will not bloom. Where the natural lighting is not enough, you may use full spectrum grow lights to supplement it.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the orchid gets adequate light on all sides to prevent lop-sided growth.
The leaves of a Laelia Orchid that is receiving sufficient light should appear light green. Dark green leaves indicate low light, while yellow or scorched leaves indicate too much sunligh.
Watering
How often should I water a Laelia Orchid?
Do not water on a schedule. Water a Laelia Orchid liberally during the growing season while allowing the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil moderately moist and avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and lack of blooms.
Decrease watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting, drooping and lack of flowering.
Being tropical plants, these Orchids wil experience cold shock if watered with too cold water resulting in stunted growth. Therefore, water with water that is at room temperature.
Like other orchids, Laelia Orchids are sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals dissolved in water leading to staining and browning of leaf edges. As such water these orchids with chlorine-free water only.
Avoid wetting the foliage during watering as it can lead to fungal diseases like leaf spot and powdery mildew.
Laelia Orchids like Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Orchids are more tolerant of dry soil conditions due to the presence of pseudobulbs and their thick leaves. As such take care not to overwater them as it may begin rotting.
Should Laelia Orchids be watered from the top or bottom?
Laelia orchids should be watered from the top. This ensures all roots are hydrated and flushes out excess fertilizer salts. Always allow excess water to drain completely.
Temperature
What temperature do Laelia Orchids need?
Laelia Orchids need a warmth of 18-290C. Warmer days and cooler night temperatures with a difference of 10-150C are ideal these Orchids. The cool nights are essential to trigger flowering.
Keep these orchids away from drafty situations like AC units, hot air vents, windy doors and others to avoid sudden changes in temperature which can result in reduced growth and yellowing.
Make sure you know which variety of Laelia Orchids you have as the higher elevation varieties require cooler temperatures. The lower elevation varieties require warmer temperatures. Tropical forests varieties will require warmer temperatures and higher humidity.
Humidity
What humidity is best for Laelia Orchids?
Moderate humidity of 50-55% is ideal for Laelia Orchids. However, if the air is too dry, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity. Ensure good air circulation and do not mist the leaves to minimize fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
What is the best fertilizer for Laelia Orchids?
Feed your Laelia Orchids with a weak solution of a water-soluble, orchid fertilizer every 2 weeks in the growing season to encourage blooming and a lush growth. Do not feed an orchid that is in flower. Withhold feeding in the cold season to prevent salts buildup as growth is minimal at this time.
It is better to err on the side of underfeeding than overfeeding. Overfeeding a Laelia Orchid may result in loss of roots and thus death of the orchid. Avoid a nitrogen-rich fertilizer as it can lead to vegetative growth at the expense of flower production.
Potting Mix
What is the best potting mix for Laelia Orchids?
The best potting mix for Laelia Orchids is a rich, loose, free-draining bark soil to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. An orchid potting mix is ideal for this orchids as it provides airflow, drains easily which prevents root rot.
Repotting
Laelia Orchids bloom best when pot-bound. Repot only when growth begins to suffer, when it has outgrown its pot and the new growth reaches out over the edge of the pot or when the soil has broken down completely.
Basically repotting a Laelia Orchid every 2-3 years should be adequate. Repot only when new growth begins, shortly after blooming is over.
Use a pot with proper drainage holes or slits as the roots need good air circulation. The pot should be only 1 size larger than the current one. The best soil should be loose, free-draining, bark soil. Take a look at these ceramic orchid pots with a free slotted orchid pot liner on Amazon.
When repotting, shake off excess soil and trim off any dried and shrivelled pseudobulbs. The large Orchids can be divided to propagate new plants.
Pruning & Grooming
Pruning Laelia Orchids entails removal of dead and diseased leaves by cutting them at the base with sharp scissors or a knife. When flowering is over, cut the flower stalk 1 inch above the 3rd node from the bottom to encourage more flowers.
Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust to expose maximum surface area for light absorption. It also discourages pests and diseases.
Laelia Orchids Propagation
How do you propagate Laelia Orchids?
Laelia Orchids are propagated by pseudobulb division at the beginning of the growing season once flowering is over.
Propagating Laelia Orchid by pseudobulb division
- Gently split the pseudobulb into sections and ensure there are at least 3 shoots on each section.
- Seperate the roots attached to each section from the mother root-ball.
- Remove the old potting soil attached to the roots of the sections and place each section in the center of the pot.
- Bury the roots of the section in the soil while ensuring that the bottom of the pseudobulb is level with the top of the soil.
- The best pot should be about 1-2 inches larger than the pseudobulb section. Ensure the pot has enough drainage holes and slits to prevent root-rot of the section.
- Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight until the sections have established their own roots.
- Water the new orchids lightly to enhance root development and stake each newly repotted plant to prevent it from toppling over.
Laelia Orchids Problems & Remedies
Laelia Orchids common problems are lack of blooms, limpy & droopy leaves, black & dying leaf tips, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Lack of blooms
Why is my Laelia Orchid not blooming?
Your Laelia Orchid is not blooming due to too little light, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, warm nights, dry air or nutrients deficiency.
How to fix it
Too little light: Position the orchid in a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light of at least 10 hours per day or instal grow lights if you do not have adequate light in your home.
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule; water when the top half of soil dries out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use a pot with proper drainage and loose, coarse soil that drains easily.
Warm nights: Keep the orchid away from sources of hot air at night to provide cooler temperatures which trigger flower production.
Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to step-up humidity.
Nutrients deficiency: Feed the orchid with a weak solution of a water-soluble, orchid fertilizer every 2 weeks in the growing season. Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers.
Limpy & droopy leaves
Limpy & droopy leaves on Laelia Orchid are caused by underwatering or temperature stress.
How to fix it
Underwatering: Water when the top half of the soil dries out but never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Temperature stress: Keep the orchid from drafts like hot air vents, heat sources, AC units among others.
Black, dying leaf tips
Black, dying leaf tips on Laelia Orchid are due to the presence of chemicals like chlorine and flourides in the water or accumulation of salts in the soil.
How to fix it
Use only chlorine-free water like rainwater.
Regularly flush out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes.
Pests
Common pests of Laelia Orchids are mealybugs, scale insects, slugs and snails infestation.
How to fix it
- Isolate the infested orchid to prevent spread to other plants.
- Treat the infested plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap. Take care to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Regularly check underneath the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.
- Keep the plant well pruned to discourage the pests.
- Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together to elevate humidity to reduce the pests infestations.
Diseases
Laelia Orchid is prone to the following 2 diseases:
1. Leaf spot disease which is characterized by brown, soft leaf spots. The disease is prevalent in wet conditions coupled with poor air circulation.
How to fix it
- Remove the affected leaves immediately to prevent further spread.
- Treat the affected plant with neem oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Avoid wetting the leaves during watering.
- Maintain good air circulation for the plant to discourage the disease.
2. Powdery mildew which is characterized by mold on the leaves and flowers. It is enhanced by overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation.
How to fix it
- Cut off the diseased parts to minimize spread.
- Isolate the affected plant to reduce spread to the other plants.
- Treat the affected plant with Neem oil as per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Ensure free air flow to depress the disease infestation.
- Do not mist or wet the foliage as the moisture creates good conditions for this disease.
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