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Cattleya Orchid

 Scientific Name : Cattleya hybrid
 Family : Orchidaceae
 Colour : Varied
 Common names : Florist's Orchid
 
Cattleya Orchid

Cattleyas, the 'Queen of Orchids' belong to a group which is the most flamboyant and colourful of all orchids. Due to their relative ease of culture and adaptability, Cattleyas are among the most popular orchid genus grown. They are a fairly permissive group, cross with many genera which have similar structures and a range of interesting and unique characteristics. There are around 48 species and many more hybrids exist. Named after William Cattleya, they are from the tropical Americas Laelia's, which can be additionally found in the West Indies and Mexico.

Cattleyas are epiphytes and have well-developed water-storage organs (called pseudobulbs) and large, fleshy roots. Cattleya plants are long-lived perennials and will usually flower annually. Plants are naturally erect, without need of much staking, and of a medium olive-green color. The flowers of the Cattleya orchid are some of the most beautiful exotic fragrance flowers and vary in colours from the beautiful lavenders to deep reds, whites, yellows and even blues. They also vary in size, shape and textures. The blooms are often very large, scented with a sweet perfume and many have very frilly lips and very large petals. 

Cattleyas require medium to bright light. Dark green but limp foliage indicates too little light. They like a very free draining compost containing at least 50 percent bark. They should be potted in a porous, free-draining medium. The most commonly used are fir bark, shredded tree-fern fiber, various types of rock, processed coconut fiber and lately, mixes based on peat moss and perlite. The ideal temperature range of cattleya group is between 58 and 85° C. Depending upon the temperature, Cattleyas should be watered about once or twice a week. It should be watered frequently, during the hotter months of the year. Cattleyas may be allowed to dry out between waterings. Try to water the plants early in the day, so that the foliage will be dry by nightfall. They prefer 40-60% relative humidity. Fertilizer must be provided on a regular basis because most potting media have little. Well-rooted plants can be given regular feeds of nitrogen-based fertilizers. Increase feeding during the growing months and reduce accordingly when growth slows down.

Questions of
 Questions & Answers
 1.  Posted on : 2.9.2013  By  :  Shaleen Chikara , Gurgaon, NCR View Answer (0) Post Answer
 

I am growing an Orchid in a small pot filled with charcoal (that's how it came). It was flowering when it came, and now I see 3 new shoots emerging from the sides. How should I care for it and how much should I water it? Also, what is a good potting medium? I am living in Delhi, and currently it is monsoon season, but soon dry winters will set in.

 
 2.  Posted on : 24.1.2011  By  :  shruthi , bangalore View Answer (2) Post Answer
 

few of my phaelanopsis orchids started to loose the topmost leaf(the blooms were present) and eventually all the leaves fell off.The roots are fine,not dry totally but will the plant grow back? what could be the problem and what do i do?

 
A1: 

As long as the bulbs are still there and not rotten, it will still grow but takes time to wait for new leaves.

  Posted By :grace de la pena , Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao | On 9.5.2013
A2: 

water got into the center of the plant and rotted must water from the bottom and keep tops dry and no it wont grow back

  Posted By :kevin , las vegas | On 22.2.2011
 3.  Posted on : 5.9.2010  By  :  Maxine , Spring Hill. Fl, Spring Hill. Fl View Answer (1) Post Answer
 

I separated my ground orchid, Spathoglottis plicata this spring as it was over crowed and it has not shown any sige of blooming, What so I need to do to encourage blooming?

 
A1: 

Hi. I had the same problem. However, I solved it with a bi-weekly watering of a small orchid fertilizer (literally 1/8 of a teaspoon). The water itself was taken from my patio pond. I placed the plant in a high humidity area near other plants. Let the plants drain out completely between waterings. The soil mix comprised real, finely chopped coconut bark, crushed egg shells, charcoal, phosphorus, lumus soil - basically nothing compact. Watch out for mealy bugs as they love these plants.

  Posted By :Paulos , Trinidad | On 15.7.2016
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