Laelia Fireworks is an orchid hybrid first bred and registered by Fame Orchids in 2018.
It is a cross between two species, Laelia marginata, found in South America and Brazil, and Laelia superbiens, found in Mexico and Honduras.
I grow my plant under a fairly large cycad where it gets full northern winter sun and protected by the fronds of the cycad in summer. It has good air circulation around the pseudobulbs and aerial roots which helps protect it from pests, like scale. In winter I fertilise weekly, mainly with organic fertiliser, such as Strike Back, Grow, Powerfeed etc... in summer i use Peters Excel finisher.
I reduce watering during winter to maybe twice a week. I use a coarse bark when repotting. The flowers appear around August every year and are long lasting and change from a soft shade of mauve as they open to a fairly bright mauve as they age.I was given this Laelia by a friend a couple of years ago as a fairly small plant and it has thrived growing under the cycad and has become very large and heavy quickly.
This year it has seven large blooms and more buds to open. I hope you enjoyed seeing this plant at the meeting. It was a mammoth task getting it into my car as it stretched from the boot into the front seat and thanks to the members who helped me get it back in at the end. I hope you enjoyed seeing it.
Lorain
