Cattleya

The genus Cattleya has about 60 species. This is one of the most popular orchid genera. Plants have a short aboveground rhizome. Drop form cylindrical pseudobulbs-pseudobulbs (characteristically swollen basal parts of the stems). Pseudobulbs of cattleya form 1-2 leaves with an oblong oval or belt-shaped shape. In addition, short peduncles grow from pseudo-bulbs, each of which forms 2-5 large, brightly colored flowers, often with a strong, refined aroma. The orchid family also includes a group of hybrids with Brassolaeliocattleya, appearance, foliage and flowers similar to plants of the genus Cattleya. There are many hybrid forms and varieties. Cattleya bowringiana is a plant of considerable size with fleshy cylindrical stems, fusiformly thickened at the base. 5-10 pink-purple flowers are formed on the peduncles; the velvety lip is dark purple, along the edge of the crimson color, in the throat - yellowish-white with dark veins. Flowers bloom from September to December. Pseudobulbs of Cattleya doviana (C. dowiana) form a single leaf; golden-yellow flowers with a reddish inner circle and yellow veins bloom from October to December. A single leaf grows from the false-bulbs of Cattleya labiata (C. labiata). On peduncles from September to November, 2-5 flowers are formed with pale pink (less often yellow) perianth lobes. The inner circle is rather large with fringed edges, yellow at the base; on the lip there is a purple spot with a pink border. Pseudobulbs of Cattleya Skinneri (C. skinneri) produce a pair of leaves and a single peduncle with 5-9 small flowers that open from March to June. The perianth lobes are pinkish-purple; the inner circle lobes are even dark purple along the edge, and white at the base.

The genus Cattleya has about 60 species. This is one of the most popular orchid genera. Plants have a short aboveground rhizome. Drop form cylindrical pseudobulbs-pseudobulbs (characteristically swollen basal parts of the stems). Pseudobulbs of cattleya form 1-2 leaves with an oblong oval or belt-shaped shape. In addition, short peduncles grow from pseudo-bulbs, each of which forms 2-5 large, brightly colored flowers, often with a strong, refined aroma. The orchid family also includes a group of hybrids with Brassolaeliocattleya, appearance, foliage and flowers similar to plants of the genus Cattleya. There are many hybrid forms and varieties.

Cattleya bowringiana is a plant of considerable size with fleshy cylindrical stems, fusiformly thickened at the base. 5-10 pink-purple flowers are formed on the peduncles; the velvety lip is dark purple, along the edge of the crimson color, in the throat - yellowish-white with dark veins. Flowers bloom from September to December. Pseudobulbs of Cattleya doviana (C. dowiana) form a single leaf; golden-yellow flowers with a reddish inner circle and yellow veins bloom from October to December.

A single leaf grows from the false-bulbs of Cattleya labiata (C. labiata). On peduncles from September to November, 2-5 flowers are formed with pale pink (less often yellow) perianth lobes. The inner circle is rather large with fringed edges, yellow at the base; on the lip there is a purple spot with a pink border.

Pseudobulbs of Cattleya Skinneri (C. skinneri) produce a pair of leaves and a single peduncle with 5-9 small flowers that open from March to June. The perianth lobes are pinkish-purple; the inner circle lobes are even dark purple along the edge, and white at the base.

Cultivation

Cattleya trees are relatively easy to grow indoors: it is enough to keep the light, temperature and humidity at a certain level. In summer, liquid fertilizer should be added to the water for irrigation - every other time.

Location

For the development and flowering of Cattleyas, moderate illumination is sufficient, so the best place is next to the window facing east, then direct sun will fall on the plants only in the morning (you can also place it on the southern window).

Temperature

Cattleyas need to provide a significant difference between day and night temperatures: during the day-21 -27 °C, at night-15-18 °C.

Watering

In summer, these orchids are abundantly watered and sprayed, in autumn-occasionally, when the soil is almost completely dry (about once a week), in winter they are sprayed no more than twice a month.

Transplant

Cattleya is transplanted no earlier than a year after purchase, during the dormant period, using a soil for orchids (a mixture of 2 parts of osmund fibers and 1 part of sphagnum).

Care

Remove dry or damaged parts of the plant.

Reproduction

Cattleya is propagated by dividing the rhizome: during the dormant period, the plant is removed from the soil (at the end of flowering) and the rhizome is cut in half in the middle between pseudobulbs (3-4 pseudobulbs should remain on each part). During division, care must be taken not to damage the roots. After transplanting into a new pot, new shoots are formed at the base of the plant and in places corresponding to the nodes of pseudobulbs, which are not touched for one year and only then separated from the old rhizomes and transplanted into a new pot. Within two weeks after transplanting, the plant does not watered.

Diseases

On the reverse side of the leaves, worms can settle, which causes yellowish spots. In addition to causing direct harm - sucking the sap out of the plant-they contribute to the appearance of rabble. Rabbles should be removed with a cloth or cotton swab soaked in alcohol, after which the plant is treated with an anticoccidal drug. Aphids cause deformity of leaves and pseudobulbs. They get rid of them with the help of special insecticides.

Acquisition

Cattleya is not difficult to get in good flower shops or gardening centers that offer the widest range. Choose plants with unopened buds.