Cattleya Orchid
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jan_Wilson]Jan Wilson

The Cattleya orchid is named after the 19th century horticulturist and orchid collector, William Cattley. Native to Central and South America, Cattleyas contain 53 species. There are two classes of Cattleyas - the unifoliate species, which have one leaf, and the bifoliate species that have two or more leaves. These are among the most popular home and garden orchids as they have large, showy flowers that are widely used for cut flowers.

Cattleyas are epiphytes (air plants) and because they grow naturally on trees, they have large, fleshy roots and pseudobulbs for storing rain water. Cattleyas have been extensively hybridized over the years and now Cattleya hybrids come in all colors except for true black and blue. A typical Cattleya flower has three petals, one of which is a conspicuous lip that has developed to attract and guide pollinating insects.

Cattleya orchids have particular growth requirements. Most species prefer day temperatures between 75 degrees F and 85 degrees F, with night temperatures between 55 degrees F and 65 degrees F. For good flowering conditions, the difference between the day and night temperature ought to be about 15 degrees F. The preferable humidity levels should be between 50% and 60%.

This is easily achieved by placing the plant container on a humidity tray that is filled with pebbles and water. Ensure that the plant roots do not sit in water for long periods of time as they will rot. Moderate amounts of air circulation are needed by Cattleya plants to prevent fungal infection, but plants should not be placed in a direct draft. An oscillating fan, set at a low speed, provides enough air circulation around the plant. Cattleya orchids thrive best in strong light conditions, but only in indirect sunlight. If grown in a greenhouse, a 55% shadecloth cover will be adequate.

Because they have pseudobulbs, Cattleyas prefer to get a deep watering and then have the potting mix dry out. Watering can be done when the porous, free-draining potting mix becomes lighter in color as it dries out. Another test can be done by placing your finger about an inch into the potting mix and seeing if any damp media is stuck to your finger. If the media is still moist, delay watering for a day or so. When the plant is not growing, or flowering, watering can be reduced to once a week.

When watering the plant, let the water freely drain into a sink, or bucket, and not into the humidity tray. Add a weak, water-soluble fertilizer (NPK 20-20-20) every couple of weeks. Every month, pour extra fertilizer-free water into the potting mix to leach out any excess fertilizer. When your Cattleya outgrows the pot, repot the plant when new growths are between one and three inches tall. Clear plastic pots are popular as they allow you to check the root system for root rot and diseases.

These are some general guidelines for growing Cattleya orchids. For more valuable orchid growing information, have a look at [http://www.growing-orchids.eu]Growing Orchids

Jan Wilson is an orchid enthusiast and has her own orchid care website at [http://www.orchid-care.org]Orchid-Care.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Wilson http://EzineArticles.com/?Cattleya-Orchid&id=1211515

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jan_Wilson]Jan Wilson

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