Common names: Florist's Orchid

Colour: Varied


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.