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All You Need To Know About Cattleya Orchids
In the wild, about 50 species of cattleya orchids exist. They grow in Central America, growing through the Amazon region to the south of Brazil. Their various attractive flowers and the tendency of these orchids to grow in large colonies means that they have been vigorously over-collected and has led many cattleya orchids to be endangered. These orchids produce strong 'pseudobulbs' topped with one or more leathery leaves. A dormant bud at the base grows into a new shoot each year, and this new shoot thickens to produce the current year's pseudobulb. The cattleya's flowers emerge from the tip of the current year's growth and comes in a wide array of colors from white and pink to green and purple. Some only flower twice annually. Hybrids: Numerous hybrids have been brought into existence over the years, many of which are easy to grow and easy to flower. Over 40 other orchid specices have been bred into Cattleyas, and notably among them is the Sophronitis which has been used to introduce scarlet and Brassovola for the frilly lip. Temperature and Humidity: The minimum night temperatures of 10-15Cº depends on the plants' origin but the growth in summer is rapid at temperatures of up to 26Cº. In case of excess humidity, a fan propelled atmosphere is suggested. Light: In the greenhouses, the normal maximum is 50% of full daylight or 2000-3000 foot candles. Since hot weather cannot be predicted, always shade sufficiently to ensure that the leaves are cool to the touch. When growing a cattleya orchid at home, always have a bright environment for the orchid, but not direct sunlight. This can be achieved by putting the orchid behind a net curtain right from April to September. These can also develop into good conservatory plants as long as summer shade and good air movement are readily available. Watering and Fertilizing: From March to September, the compost should never be allowed to dry out completely. Always water twice weekly and always fertilize every two weeks with an appropriate orchid fertilizer. From October to February, no fertiliser is required, but always waters the orchids when the compost appears dried out. A good thing to remember is not to over water the orchid, as it can take water neglect much better than over watering. Resources
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