How to Grow and Care for a Cattleya Orchid Plant

 

 

Hi Marissa,

Please do NOT get rid of your Cattleya Orchid plant now that it has finished flowering. This orchid is easy to care for and will live and bloom for many years if you just do a few simple things.

A Cattleya orchid plants starts to flower when it is about 4-5 years old and often flowers twice a year after that.

Water: Water well when the plant is producing new leaves. Drain any excess water and never allow the orchid plant to sit in water. Once the buds appear, reduce the amount of water you give the plant allowing the soil to dry out a bit, and never get the flower buds wet. Water early in the day so the soil is not too wet when the temperature drops at night. Use tepid water.

Light– Cattleyas Orchids grow better and produce more flowers in bright indirect light. The main reason Cattleya Orchids do not bloom is that they are not getting enough light. Leaf color  an orchid gets. The leaves will be a medium apple green when the light is perfect. Too much light causes the leaves to yellow, too little and the leaves are a dark green. You may have to move your orchid plant to different locations as the seasons change.

Fertilizer: A good rule to remember about feeding orchid plants is to feed weekly, weakly. When the plant is actively growing, use a balanced plant food (10/10/10 diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength or plant food made specifically for orchids diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength. When the plant is resting and not producing new leaves, fertilize every other week with the fertilizer diluted  to 1/4- 1/2 the recommended strength. Do not feed a Cattleya Orchid at all when it is in bloom.

Humidity: 40% – 60%- humidity helps orchid plants grow better indoors

RePotting: Repot to the next size container in the spring when the pseudobulbs have little space to reproduce.