Temperature and Humidity

Cattleya thrive with a day temperature range between 70°F and 80°F (20°C to 27°C). At night there should be at least a 10°F (6°C) drop, to around 60°F to 64°F (15°C to 18°C). This lower night temperature will help initiate flower buds and promote stronger growth. Cattleya benefit from humidity levels between 45% and 60%. This can be achieved at home with the use of a humidifier or a humidity tray. Just make sure that the plant is not standing in water or the roots will rot.

Watering

Cattleya should be watered when the potting medium feels dry almost to the bottom of the pot. This generally occurs every week or so from the previous watering. If in doubt, do not water and wait another day or two. Remember that small plants in clay pots can dry out within a couple of days. Plants should never stand in water. Make sure to water more often when Cattleya are about to bloom, and throughout the blooming period. When repotting your Cattleya during the active growing season, do not water the media for at least 7 days. This allows cuts and breaks in the roots to callous and avoid rotting upon being watered. We always recommend watering in the morning, as this gives the leaves time to dry and avoid bacterial growth overnight. If possible, use water low in alkalinity, such as rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water. If you have a dehumidifier in your home, the water that collects in the tray is excellent for watering orchids.

Feeding

We highly recommend Green Jungle Orchid Food, specially formulated to provide orchids with the nutrients they would naturally encounter in their wild habitats. This is the fertilizer that we developed to use on our own plants in production, with excellent results for decades! This formula works best with water low in alkalinity (such as rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water). However, you may use tap water, keeping in mind that mineral buildup will require repotting more frequently, on the order of every 1 to 2 years. If potting in bark mix, fertilize every time you water during the growing season, flushing with non-softened water once a month. This rinses the media of salt and mineral buildup. During periods of inactive growth, fertilize every other watering. If potting in sphagnum moss, fertilize every 3rd watering year round.

Potting

At Orchids Limited, we recommend potting Cattleya using New Zealand Sphagnum Moss or the Medium grade of our Traditional Orchid Bark Mix. Large Cattleya specimens can utilize the Large grade of our Traditional Orchid Bark Mix. In general, repotting should be done every 2 years in the spring. Repotting becomes necessary when the plant has outgrown its pot and the new growth reaches out over the edge, or when the potting medium has broken down. When repotting, choose a pot that is large enough to accommodate 2 or 3 years growth (1 or 2 new pseudobulbs per year). Grab the plant near the base of the pot and start by gently, but firmly, pulling the plant out of its old pot. When growing in clay pots, it is sometimes easiest to simply take a hammer and break the clay pot. Do not worry about breaking or cracking roots, this will not harm the plant long term. If the mix is old, crumbly and sour, carefully remove the media and rinse the root system. Trim off any dead roots and dead pseudobulbs. Position the plant with its oldest pseudobulbs to the edge of the new pot. Then, spreading the plant roots out, fill in the space with the potting medium. Press down firmly with each handful so that the plant does not wobble around. Build up the compost until the plant rests with its rhizome on the surface, about a half-inch below the rim of the pot. If your newly potted plant is wobbly, you can use a ring support or rhizome clip to secure the plant.

To divide a Cattleya, cut through the rhizome between the pseudobulbs, leaving three to four bulbs per division. Try to untangle some of the roots for each division. You may have to cut some of the roots in order to divide the plant. To avoid the transfer of orchid diseases, it is standard procedure to sterilize all cutting and potting instruments before using them on a plant. This can be done by flaming pruning shears with a butane torch, or by spraying with rubbing alcohol and wiping with a clean paper towel.  

Pest Control

The main Cattleya pests are scale and thrips. The best way to monitor your plants for scale is to remove any dry, papery sheaths from the pseudobulbs so the insects have nowhere to hide. The best treatment for scale is often a systemic pesticide. Thrips can either be controlled by using beneficial predatory mites, or via an application of neem oil every few days.