13 Foolproof Ways To Flower And Grow Cattleya Orchids - Orchid Bliss (2023)

Once upon a time, the cattleya orchid was the orchid of the bouquet. It's easy to see why: large, long-lasting and colorful flowers adorn this orchid. Now it's your turn to flourish and nurture this classic favorite. But sometimes it's hard to know what to do.

You are wondering if you can properly care for your Cattleya. Much less if you get it to flower.The key to flowering and growing cattleya orchids is bright light and the right temperatures. You need to know how to water, fertilize and pot your Cattleya. Let's talk about how to do that.

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1- Offer Cattleyas bright light

Cattleyas are notorious for their high light requirements.By the way, among orchids, light cattleya has already become the standard. Light is important because without enough of it your orchid will not have stored enough energy to thrive.

You can tell from the color of the leaves whether your Cattleya is getting enough light. Look for a leaf color that is light and light green. Dark green means the orchid is not getting enough light.In other words, if you want to get technical, the cattle will need 2,000 to 4,000 feet of dinghy.

When growing cattleyas at home, you have two options. You can grow your Cattleyas on a windowsill or under lamps. Both options can work.

Growing cattleyas near a window

Place your orchid near a window with plenty of bright but indirect light. As you move your Cattleya from less light to more light, protect the leaves from sunburn and gradually increase the amount of light.

An easy way to gradually increase the light to avoid sunburn is to place a sheer curtain over the window. Over time, open the umbrella for a long time until you can remove it completely.

Growing cattleyas under artificial lights

If you don't have a sunny window, you can still grow Gadoyas. Artificial light is reliable. You can set a timer to turn your lights on and off at specific times and never worry about cloudiness again. To learn how to make lights for your orchids,CLICK HERE.

I personally love growing orchids under lights. Artificial light has enabled me to maintain a much larger and more extensive collection of orchids than I would otherwise have been able to grow.

2- Suitable temperatures for Cattleyas

In general, most Cattleyas are moderate breeders and like daytime temperatures between 21°-29°C. Avoid temperatures above 29°C. These daytime temperatures are very easy to handle for most home growers.

Nighttime target temperatures are between 55°-60°F / 13°-15.6°C at night. If you can provide your cats with a 10 degree temperature difference between day and night, they will be fine. If you live in an area with suitable temperatures, open a window at night. Setting the air conditioning to 55°F / 13°C at night seems a bit excessive.

Just as light is important for orchids to bloom, so is temperature. Cattleyas are considered intermediate producers. Here's a breakdown of ideal temperature ranges for Cattleyas:

• Winter
  • daytime - 60°-70°F (15.5°-21°C)
  • Night - not colder than 12.8 °C
• Sommer
  • Daytime - 65°-75°F (18.3°-23.9°C), although 85° is fine, over 90°F (32°C) is harmful
  • Night – 65°-65°F (18.3°-23.9°C)

3- water cats

One thing I like about growing Cattleyas is that they don't need a winter break. This means you can water your livestock all year round without worrying about overwatering. Here's what you need to know about watering Cattleya.

Note that Cattleyas have thick "stems" called pseudobulbs and leaves. Both the pseudobulbs and the leaves store water.

What this means for you and me is that Cattleya roots like to dry out a bit between watering. When watering, allow water to flow freely and completely through a free-draining potting soil. Then allow the mixture to dry before watering again. Plan to water 1-2 times a week.

Watering is especially important when new roots, pseudobulbs, and leaves are growing. It is best to only water the roots and not the rest of the orchid to prevent bacterial and fungal growth.

4- Give your orchid water in the air - moisture

Living in an arid climate, I find the hardest part of growing Cattleyas to be getting enough moisture. Cattleyas need between 40 and 70% humidity. Since I don't want mold to grow and ruin my walls, I aim for around 50% humidity with a humidifier.

To increase the humidity around my orchids I laymy humidifierProlowand then place my Cattleyas as close to the humidifier as possible without water condensing on the leaves.

You will know if your orchid is getting enough moisture because the leaves are thick and fleshy with no wrinkles.

5- Feed your Cattleya - Manure

To ensure strong roots and foliage and plentiful blooms, fertilize 3 weeks out of 4 at ¼ the recommended level. In the fourth week, flush the growing medium to flush out the fertilizer salts. For potted orchids with bark use anitrogen-rich fertilizer (9-3-6).

Fertilizing is especially important in spring when new roots, leaves, and pseudobulbs are growing. Reduce fertilization when Cattleya is not actively growing, e.g. B. in winter.

6- Air movement to prevent disease

Orchids love moisture. They need airborne water to make up for the water lost through the pores in their leaves (called stomata). But not only orchids thrive well in moisture, also fungi and bacteria.The movement of air, in the form ofVentilator- Pointing down, away from the orchids, helps keep your orchids healthy and free from fungal and bacterial infections.

7- Avoid pests

Keeping your orchid disease free with good airflow is one way to keep your orchids healthy. Another way to keep an eye on the health of your orchids is to regularly inspect them for pests.

Mealybugs, scales (my personal enemy), thrips, aphids, snails and slugs love to feast on orchids. Regular inspection for signs of pests will help you spot insects before they become a nuisance and spread to other orchids. To learn how to treat pests,CLICK HERE.

8- Envasar uma Cattleya

Planting an orchid in a pot can be as intimidating as it is necessary. And I know you can do it!

Since cattleya roots need a lot of airflow, use an open potting soil such as B. Fir bark supplemented with small pieces of rockwool to add moisture and charcoal to prevent the mixture from compacting. There are two main methods of "potting" Cattleyas: mounted and potted.

berittene Cattleyas

Cattleyas are naturally suited to riding for a variety of reasons.

1. Many Cattleya varieties grow very tall. (Choose a miniature hybrid for a smaller plant.) Large Cattleyas grow quickly but can spread in mounds.
2. You can go years without pots if you use mounts. Hooray!
3. Although spiked orchids can go years without pots, they can be cared for with daily watering.If you choose to ride your livestock, be prepared to water or mist the roots daily.same withCounted orchids need more moisture than potted orchids.
4. Cattleya rhizomes grow horizontally and make ideal mounts.
5. Cattleya roots love oxygen and suspended orchid roots are exposed to air.
6. Cattleyas are epiphytes and grow on trees. A mount closely resembles its natural growth habitat.

To learn how to mount an orchid,CLICK HERE.

Cattleyas im Glas

If daily watering and high humidity are out of the question for you and your Cattleya, you can always increase it. Unlike most orchids, which grow best in tall, narrow pots, cattleyas grow in shallow, wide pots or baskets.

Before choosing a pot, consider the environment you will be growing it in and the needs of your Cattleyas. In particular, remember that orchids love moisture, but they also like their roots to dry out slightly between watering.

• Slatted baskets dry faster and allow plenty of air to reach the roots.
• Clay pots don't dry out as quickly as baskets and allow good airflow to the roots.
• Plastic pots dry out slower but offer less airflow to the roots.

After sowing, you may find that aRhizom-ClipIt makes sense to leave the Cattleya in the pot until the roots have established themselves in the pot. One end of the clip fits over the side of the pot. The other end is straight and goes between pseudobulbs that hold the orchid in place.

To take a look at my recommended pot set for orchids,CLICK HERE.

9- Cattleya orchids are sympodial: why this matters when planted in pots

Sympodial orchids grow from a thick stem called a rhizome that grows horizontally across the surface of the substrate. The pseudobulbs grow from the rhizome. In fact, most orchids are sympodial rather than monopodial. Phalaenopsis and Vanda orchids are unipod and have a single stem.

Sympodial orchids, including Cattleyas, grow laterally, preferably from one end of the pot to the other. For this reason, when transplanting, it is important to place the cattleya with the older growth towards the side of the pot and the newer growth towards the centre.

Sympodial orchids grown in very small pots will appear to grow out of the pot when the rhizome grows over the edge of the pot.

A wide pot allows Cattleyas to grow sideways. A shallow pot dries out faster than a deep pot and prevents the pot from retaining too much moisture. Bonsai pots are wide and flat and can be used for Cattleya pots.

10- Potting Success – Novas Raízes

To most successfully transplant a Cattleya:

1. Pot before the growing medium breaks down.
2. Transplant at the first sign of new roots. This is when the Cattleya will accept the pot more easily and recover more quickly from the trauma of the pot.

For a step-by-step guide to potting orchids, seeCLICK HERE.

11- Flowering success - avoiding bud bursting

From time to time you may notice that the sheath covering the bud starts to turn yellow. Use a sterilized razor blade and carefully trim the hem. Be very careful not to damage the newly formed bud. (Don't be shy either.)

Budding buds are caused by fluctuations in the orchid's environment, such as: B. Changes in water, temperature and even pollution. For more information on Gem Blast and how to avoid it,CLICK HERE.

12- My favorite tip for collecting Cattleyas, plus 4 more

My favorite tip: Choose an award-winning Cattleya

Since Cattleyas have been crossed many times, there is a lot of variety. This means that some hybrids are better than others. So no matter which Cattleya you choose, you can also choose a proven winner. Here are some Cattleyas recommended byWilliam Cullin in his bookunderstand orchidsmiMark Hachadourian in his book,modern orchid.

principiante Cattleyas Recommended byWilliam Cullina, Understanding OrchidsmiMark Hachadourian, Moderne Orchidee

Cattleya Skinneri Advanced Cattleya Cattleya aurantiaca Cattleya Mossiae Cattleay Canhamiana 'Asure Skies' Cattleya Cernua Cattlyea Dinard 'Blauer Himmel' Cattleya Drumbeat 'Patrimonio' Cattleya Mari-Song Cattleya Cattleya Fair Melody 'Carol' Cattleya Mini-Roxa Cattlian the Gold Digger 'Fox Mandarin' Cattlian, the Jeweler from 'Scheherazade' Clowesia Rebecca Northern 'Pomelo rosa'

1- Flow issues

It takes a few years for Cattleya to grow large enough to produce flowers. If you are patient and want to save money, buy a younger orchid, take good care of it, and when the orchid is fully grown you will have flowers.

On the other hand, if you don't want to wait for the orchid to grow, ask the seller if the orchid is "flower size."

2- Choose a color, any color

Because there are so many Cattleya hybrids, they come in virtually every color. If you have a favorite color, you'll likely find a Cattleya to match.

3- Standard or miniature size

Orchids that grow in the wild, called orchid species, are usually quite large. If you don't have space for a tall plant, choose a miniature hybrid.

Having limited space I have decided to grow miniature cattleyas and have found them very rewarding. I love spring when I see new pseudobulbs and roots starting to grow. Later, when they bloom, I feel like a real champion! My Cattleya's success is my success.

4- Fragrance

Yes, you can even choose a Cattleya or a Perfumed Cattleya.

• Cattleya digbyana
• Related to the Cattleyas, the Brassavola is easy to grow and has a lovely nocturnal scent.

13- Last tip: download your own care card

Growing orchids is rewarding, if frustrating at times. To add more fun and less discouragement, I've created a free, easy-to-use, downloadable Cattleya Care Card with information on caring for Cattleyas. to get yoursCLICK HERE.

These care cards cover all the essential information we're talking about here, including temperature, light, moisture, water, fertilization, potting, and medium.

This way you can easily access the information you need to take the best care of your Cattleya orchids.

resources

If you are curious about any of the products such as potting soil, fertilizer and artificial lighting, I personally use and recommend successfully growing orchids, including Cattleyas,CLICK HERE.