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Growing Tips for Cattleyas
Most
people refer to Cattleya-like plants as Cattleyas, although they are
generally a combination of several related genera, including broughtonia,
sophronitis, brasavola, laelia, and others. These intergenerics
usually have similar growing and blooming characteristics, so there is not a
need to describe them seperately, but growers should be aware of what their
particular plants are made from so they know better what to expect.
For instance, Cattletonia is a combination of Cattleya and Broughtonia, and
the Bro. brings in longer stem habits with heads of flowers, and much more
prolific blooming.
BLOOMING: Large Cattleyas usually bloom once a year, while many compact Cattleyas bloom two or more times a year. In general, smaller blooms last longer
(3-8 weeks) than the flowers of large Cattleyas (1-3 weeks).
LIGHT: The amount of light is one of the most important factors in growing and blooming Cattleyas. Bright light to some sun must be given to the plants, and an east or
south or west window in the home can be ideal.
TEMPERATURES: We recommend night temperatures to be 55 to 65 degrees F and 70 to 85 degrees F during the day. Seedlings should be kept on the warmer side, especially at night. Higher temperatures can be tolerated (up to 95+ degrees F), if humidity and air circulation are increased.
WATERING: The watering is dictated by size and type of pot, temperature, light, etc. Mature Cattleyas need to dry out thoroughly before being watered again. Seedlings need slightly more constant moisture. If in doubt, it is best to wait a day or two until watering. Plants in active growth need more water than plants that are resting. Water below 50 degrees F may injure plants, as will softened water.
HUMIDITY: Cattleyas need 50 to 80 percent relative humidity. This can be provided in the home by placing the plants on trays of gravel, partially filled with water so that the plants stand above the water. Misting the plants in the morning only is helpful in dry climates. Air should always be moving around the plants to prevent fungal or bacterial disease.
FERTILIZER: Cattleyas need to be fertilized regularly. In fir bark, a high-nitrogen (30-10-10 or similar) formulation is used. High-phosphorus (15-30-15) formulation may be used every 4 to 6 applications to promote blooming. When in active growth, plants need fertilizer every two weeks, and when not growing, once a month. Thorough flushing
the pot with clear water once a month is recommended to prevent buildup of fertilizer salts.
POTTING: Cattleyas should be repotted every 2-3 years. It is essential to repot if the media breaks down (soggy, mushy). Select a large enough pot for a couple years growth. Place the older pseudobulbs next to the pot to give maximum space for new growths. It is best to repot just before new roots sprout from the rhizome.
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