Cattleya Orchids Care Tips

Botanical Name: Cattleya species and hybrids

Big, frilly petals in gorgeous colors make Cattleya orchids the hands-down favorite of many orchid growers. Members of the Orchidaceae family, Catts are among the best-known. This is the genus you'll find in Mother's Day corsages.

Beautiful cattleyas are native to the Amazon jungles, where they thrive in warm, misty breezes and dappled sunlight. So, how do you create a compatible environment in your home? Fortunately, this is easier than it seems.

Cattleya orchids may refuse to bloom if they don't get enough light. Put your orchids in a well-ventilated location where they'll get plenty of light, but out of direct sun. If you don't have a spot near a window, artificial lighting works beautifully. Don't use incandescent bulbs because they give off too much heat. Fluorescent bulbs are much better, and are cheap and efficient. Use 1 warm white tube and 1 cool white tube under a reflector. Put your orchids about 8 inches (20 cm) beneath the light and keep the lights on for 14-16 hours a day. It's important to give them darkness at night. Plants need a rest, too.

Without question, orchids love humidity. If humidity drops below 50 percent, use a humidity tray or room humidifier to increase the moisture in the air. Grouping plants also helps to maintain the humidity around them.

To repot...or not. Fir bark mix breaks down after a couple years and needs replaced. Catts can be finicky about being repotted at the wrong time. In fact, some even resent being in a pot. However, if you get the timing right, orchids will forgive the disturbance and will bloom on schedule. The best time to repot your orchid is when new growth begins, shortly after blooming.

Got a reluctant bloomer? Give your orchid slightly cooler nighttime temperatures to spark blooming. A 15° difference will do. Cattleyas will tolerate varying temperatures from 60° nights up to 90° days. They usually flower once a year, and with good cattleya orchid care, you can expect blooms year after year.

Origin: Central and South America

Height: Species vary widely

Light: Bright indirect light year-round. Some direct morning sun is fine.

Water: Water thoroughly and allow top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Cattleyas store water in their thick leaves and pseudobulbs, making them more tolerant of dry soil than wet.

Humidity: Moderate to high, preferably 50-70 percent humidity.

Temperature: Average to warm 60-90°F, 16-32°C

Soil: Orchid potting mix or half-half mix of fine-grade fir bark and perlite

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks with a 20-10-10 liquid fertilizer diluted by half while plant is growing.

Propagation: Divide pseudobulbs into clumps of 3 or more and pot in separate containers.