Laelia anceps
Two-headed laelia
- Height × spread
- 1.2m × 0.9m
- Position
- Part shade
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Flowers
- Winter
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This flowers during the autumn and winter and is said to be very variable in its form. The flowers can be white or in shades of pink and may even have strong lavender tints. The rather rigid looking short leathery leaves, look as though cut from leather. Flowers on long stalks are five petalled, the rear petal upright and oblong, the forward-pointing darker, labellum has the characteristic deep lip, incised at its centre. Attractive and lively looking. This needs a part-shaded site and a temperature of 15-30C. This is found growing in bright positions in woods. It needs a bark compost and should be allowed to dry out between waterings. It should be kept drier when dormant.
- Flower colour
- Lavender, Pink, Purple, White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cone
- Height
- 1.2m
- Spread
- 0.9m
- Season of interest
- Autumn, Winter
- Flowers in
- Winter
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes part shade
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 15C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Mist the plant daily
Plants which enjoy high humidity should be misted daily. Soft or rain water is preferred as it doesn't mark the foliage. Avoid spraying at the height of day or the water can act as a magnifying glass and leaves may be scorched.
Mist the plant daily when in growth, preferably using rain or soft water.
Spring-Winter · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while the plant is in growth. The watering should be reduced as the leaves start to die. It should be kept just moist during its rest period (generally winter) and watering resumed when new growth starts.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Keep dry during dormancy
This plant likes a period of dryness in winter. Otherwise increase watering as it comes into growth, water regularly, then decrease as the plant enters dormancy. Mist the foliage daily while in growth.
Other opinions state that plant should receive the occasional light watering while it is in its dormant or resting period.
Spring-Winter · Planting
Divide when too large for pot
Orchids that are too large for their pots can be divided when dormant. Cut through the rhizome and root ball if necessary. Treat cuts with sulphur powder, repot the plant and stake it to ensure it is not going to move in its pot.
You can also remove offsets and bulbils etc. at this time, but be sure to leave some pseudo bulbs and put bulbs back in place. Research specialist literature on this if you wish to get the very best from your orchid.
Summer
Summer-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with orchid feed
Use a standard orchid feed regularly at every third watering during summer, applying it as directed on the packet.
For specialist feeding, you can buy a group of orchid feeds. Apply a high nitrogen feed in spring as the plant is coming into growth, a balanced feed during growth, and a high potash feed in autumn.
Summer-Autumn · Outdoors
Feed with orchid feed
Use a standard orchid feed regularly at every third watering during summer, applying it as directed on the packet.
For specialist feeding, you can buy a group of orchid feeds. Apply a high nitrogen feed in spring as the plant is coming into growth, a balanced feed during growth, and a high potash feed in autumn.
Planting & general
Indoor temperature · Planting
15C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 15 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).
Compost · Planting
Orchid-epiphytic compost for repotting
Buy a standard orchid mix for orchids that are epiphytic in character i.e. they grow on other things, generally other plants.
If making one's own one recipe create a mix that is half fine bark chips, and a mix of fine gravel and perlite and charcoal for the other half. Opinions vary on 'recipes' and if your interest develops, you can research the views of specialist growers.