Mayflower orchid Care

Laelia is drought tolerant due to its roots that store up water for later so overwatering really is something to look out for, as it could easily lead to root rot in the cold season. You need to pay a bit more attention to your watering habits, as this orchid will need more water during the growth season, in spring and summer and no water as the cold season approaches. Keep the orchid in a somewhat moist environment during the active growing season, then quit watering it until the next spring when fall comes. This will help the flowers bloom and let repurpose the nutrients.

Use the pruning time for other plants, as Laelia does not require any pruning at all. If you see any yellowing leaves or loose parts, cut them so the plant does not invest any more energy into it, but besides that you should be worry-free.

Look for fertilizer that contains nitrogen during the growth season and switch it with a fertilizer high in phosphate until late November. They love a good fertilizer and will reward you with even more blooms as the winter gets around the corner.

Keep them in bright, indirect sunlight or in spots where only the morning sun reaches them, as it is easy to expose them to sunburn if kept in full sun. They need a lot of light to bloom, so give them as much light exposure as your room can take.

You will easily find an orchid pot mix that has elements that can imitate the woody, well-draining environment where this orchid originally comes from. Only use this type of soil or grow it on fern bark so you fool your orchid into thinking it grows on top of another plant.

The easiest way to propagate the Mayflower orchids is by stem division, as this method needs only a few weeks to give you new plants to fill up the room. When propagating by division, dig the stem down to the roots and try to include more stems for division, as you will have more success in establishing a plant. Once cut with sterilized tools, plant in a new pot which you should place in a cool spot. Mist them consistently during this period by spraying to make sure your new plant develops on a healthy path.

Mayflower orchid adapts to a wide variety of temperatures, as their origins vary from cool, dry temperatures to subtropical moist temperatures, so they are really easy to adapt to your home temperature.

Although they grow on trees in their natural habitat, it is quite difficult to match the same habitat if you intend to grow it outside on your trees. The best idea is to either plant it in a deep pot or on fern bark. Just make sure you imitate their habitat as much as possible and ensure they are very well drained. As they rely mostly on their aerial roots, the Mayflower orchid is basically air-bound, so you want to create the same conditions for it to thrive.

Unlike many flowers you will find around, orchids can also be grown upside down, due to their aerial roots that don’t need soil planting so, if you’re in to redecorate your house, Mayflower orchids or orchids will play along.