Hi! I was inspired by Ursula's picture of her Laelia bradei in August of 2013 to check out the orchid forum. I have Angraecums, Cattleyas, Dens, Phrags, Zygos and a couple other orchids that generally grow well and bloom. I also have Laelia ghillanyi. lucasiana & liliputana (all blooming size when I got them a couple of years ago) that I'm floundering with.
My rupic hybrids do fine, but I lose new growths often with the species, and growths that do mature don't bloom. If you care to share the culture that's worked for you, I'd love to hear it.

Hi fleur, and Welcome to the orchids forum. Here's a link I found that might be helpful to you
http://www.orchidworks.com/bra...

Not much help from me here, because I also have trouble with Laelias, although the local botanical garden has them (big lush Laelia anceps, I think) growing 'wild' in their oak trees. I've bought both potted plants and bare-root divisions and had them all, large and small types, die off. I do grow all my orchids outdoors almost year 'round (they're indoors right now for a few cold nights) and most of the time my conditions are pretty good, humidity and light-wise. But of course I also have every insect and fungal disease known to man floating around my garden, so there could be many reasons why those plants didn't make it.

Are you growing your orchids in a greenhouse, or where? Do your orchids go outdoors for the summer? Are your plants mounted, in baskets or in pots?

One of my favorite theories is that some orchids thrive and get healthy and resilient when they have established a nice big clump. With Laelias, I'm thinking I may try one more time if I can find a big division(s) or get my hands on a big plant that I can put on a lovely oak tree branch in my garden. Moving and estate sales around here can yield some real treasures in the way of old, established orchids so I have my eye out.

Welcome, fleur. Do tell us where you are and how you grow your various orchids.

Elaine, I have never had very many Laelia plants, but two I have had success with (so far) are an L. purpurata and an L. anceps variety.

I liked the article. I grow lots of them and have the same issues as you fleur. There was a guy that I bought them from on ebay who gave me good advice but I just don't seem to find a magic bullet to get them happy. I think they would be a major favorite of mine if I could figure out how to get them to thrive and flower. This year I am growing them in more light and heat. The one exception is lucasianum which blooms for me. I have reverse osmosis water and fans directed on them but they are languishing.

Welcome Fleur!
I do grow a bunch of rupicolous Laelias. Now I grow them here in NJ in maximum sun, in Winter in the greenhouse right under the glass ceiling, (in Summer outside unprotected/in full sun.) Since they dry up very quickly, I have some potted in small stones, some mounted, I water daily with rain water. Inside they get plenty ventilation from a nearby fan.
Some of mine bloom reasonably easy for me, some not or never. L. liliputana sat there for years, never bloomed and managed to die last Summer.
Laelia mixta blooms more reliable. It is in bloom now.

I should add, yes, getting new growth on some of those can be a bit of a challenge. Sometimes at the end of the Summer outside, you have beautiful new growths, only to see them turning black and you lose half of the plant or the whole thing just peters out.

We used to keep a thread on Rupicolous Laelias here
The thread "Rupicolous Laelias" in Orchids forum
I include Laelia lundii here, mine has right now a bunch of shoots, I am hoping they might be buds. I always find it hard to tell at this stage, many time they are new growths.

Welcome, Fleur! I have four Laelia rubescens 'Bertha' growing on chunks of tree fern that are wedged into a crack in a piece of driftwood. I try to keep them watered enough but it is a challenge. Two of them now appear to be dying and I have no idea as to why. Here is a pic from a couple of months ago.

Jim

@fleur, just wondering if you are still here?