Widely known for the large, showy and sometimes fragrant flowers popular in the cut-flower trade, Cattleya is called the Queen of Orchids. Pronounced cat-lay’-a, these gorgeous blooms have been used as the ultimate orchid for floral corsages. Just think of Easter and Mother’s Day when even the food markets are in competition with the florists and nurseries that offer corsages. What about her birthday. If you want to see a bright light in her eyes, and a big grin on her face, give her an orchid corsage to wear to church or Temple or to a restaurant for that special appreciation lunch or dinner. I know that I would love to get one. Reminder: some young women still love orchid corsages on their prom gowns or on their wrist.

The most popular of this species are the man-made hybrids derived from combining Cattleyas with close relatives to produce various colors, sizes and forms. They offer an idealized picture that we have of orchids that occur in all colors except black and true blue. Some of the most stunning of these hybrid flowers can vary in size from 5 centimeters (1.97 inches) to 15 centimeters (5.91 inches) or more. There’s one that can grow up to 8” across and comes in a broad assortment of colors and patterns.

Named after Sir William Cattley by John Lindley in 1824, Sir William received them and then successfully cultivated specimens of the Cattleya labiata that was used in packing material when shipped with other orchids. The Cattleya is a genus, meaning group, of 113 species of orchids are native to Mexico, prevalent in Costa Rica and through the tropics of South America.

The typical orchid has three narrow sepals which are modified leaves that are usually green and are there to protect the inner parts of the bud. However, in an orchid, the sepals are the same color as the petals but are much broader. Two of the orchid petals are the same but the third has a lip that features markings and specks and often a frilly margin. You can see that frilly margin in the photograph, that delicate center portion of this magnificent bloom. The margins are folded into a tube at the base. Each flower stalk originates from what is called a pseudo-bulb. These sympodial orchids grow from underground rhizomes and send up these pseudobulbs in the spring, topped with flat leaves. They will not flower without plenty of light – but not direct sunlight. Under the right conditions, the leaves will be a gorgeous shade of apple green. Aren’t we lucky! There can be up to ten flowers on a stalk but there are usually only one or two.

Watering these plants is crucial to their survival. They should be watered heavily when growing but should not sit in water. When one the blooms begins to come up through their sheaths, cut back on the watering or the water in these sheaths will rot the bloom that is trying to come out. Let the potting mixture dry out between watering sessions. Follow the flower’s particular guidelines. Some growers will say, fertilize weakly, weekly. In other words, during the growing season, fertilize with a weak orchid fertilizer every week. During their rest period, you should fertilize alternate weeks only. Don’t be turned off by this regime. Pick one day a week, like a Sunday, so it becomes habit and mark X on a calendar. It takes only minutes. Some orchids need food only once a month. The ideal growing temperature is 75 to 85 degrees F with only a 60 to 65 F. degree spread at night. They can tolerate an occasional heat wave of short duration.

The following video will help you gain more understanding
of the magnificent Cattleya Orchid:

Most of the Cattleya orchids produce only one new growth every year and should produce flowers in late summer or winter. A few of the hybrids could produce two blooms yearly. Repotting is stressful; perhaps every 2 to 3 years if the plant grows too big or if the potting medium needs replacing, typically in the spring.

There are several dozen types of Cattleya that grow only in the wild. You won’t find them in your local plant nurseries. Because they grow so easily, they are the most hybridized of all the orchids over the past century. One of the hybrids, the Sophronitis, is a tiny flame colored orchid and this color is uniquely intense. Other hybrids can range from green to magenta. If you are interested in attempting to learn about the thousands of registered hybrids, consider the American Orchid Society.

If you’re in love with these breathtakingly beautiful blooms like I am, you need to know they are not difficult plants to grow. Depending on the particular species of orchids, the one you love may produce a few incredibly rewarding showy flowers or bundles of small waxy flowers. If a scent is important to you, simply tell the grower who will provide the orchid plant to you that a fragrance is what you want. At the end of the orchid growing season, don’t despair. When the last flower drops simply cut the spike all the way down to the very bottom of the stem. Apply a pinch of cinnamon powder or melted candle wax to seal the wound and wait for your orchid to re-bloom as you continue caring for it. You already know that the bloom is well worth waiting for.

We at Orchid Care.org can provide you with all the information, tips and resources you will ever need to become an accomplished orchid grower and so there is really no reason for you to ever go anywhere else.

Incoming Search Queries:

  • cattleya orchid meaning
  • cattleya flower meaning
  • cattleya meaning
  • meaning of cattleya orchid
  • cattleya orchid
  • meaning of cattleya flower
  • cattleya orchids meaning
  • meaning of the cattleya orchid
  • orchid cattleya meaning
  • large orchid plants

Filed under: Orchid Species

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!