Orchid family. Homeland South and Central America, Antilles. Probably the most famous genus of orchids. Cattlei are epiphytic plants, with a sympodial type of growth, with a pronounced aerial rhizome. There are about 40 species in nature, and various hybrids obtained by biologists from interspecies crossing, as well as crosses with orchids of a different genus, are in the thousands. All Cuttleites in nature are epiphytes or lithophytes (they grow exclusively on trees and crevices of rocky terrain).
There are two types of cattles:
- Representatives of the first group have elongated fleshy spindle-shaped, sometimes flattened bulbs with one apical leathery leaf. The peduncle emerges from the cover at the top of the new growth and bears several large fragrant flowers. Their predominant color is from pink-purple to white. There are often yellow spots on the lip.
- The second group is represented by plants with long (in some species up to 1 m) cylindrical bulbs bearing two or more leathery elliptical leaves. Peduncle apical, with several medium-sized flowers. Flowers are more diverse in color than plants of the first group, and often denser in texture.
Cattleya labiata - this extensive species has such common features - a large fusiform, somewhat flattened pseudobulb about 20 cm long, covered with grayish films-scales. The leaves are leathery, oblong in shape, about 20-25 cm long, with a small notch at the apex. The flowers are very large - up to 20 cm in diameter, several pieces (3-5) are collected in an apical racemose inflorescence. Sepals and petals from pink to lilac, in a variety of shades, with a wavy edge, and the sepals are about three times narrower than the petals. The lip is large, slightly pronounced three-lobed. The lateral lobes are wrapped, and the middle one is wide and unfolded, distinguished by a bright violet-purple color, a bright yellow spot in the throat and with a curly, lighter edge.
Cattleya Doe Cattleya dowiana - a synonym for Cattleya doviana - a species native to the Caribbean islands, belongs to single-leaf species of cattlei. It has long bulbs elongated up to almost 20 cm, the leaves are elongated-elliptical, slightly more than 20 cm long and 5-6 cm wide. The peduncle is short 11-12 cm, with a spike inflorescence bearing 4 or 5 flowers. The flowers are large - in a span of 15-17 cm, fragrant. The orchid of the original species has sepals and petals that are pale yellow. The lip is dark purple with yellow stains and a narrow purple fringe along the margin. Katleya Dow has several forms, several differing in the color of the petals.
Cattleya warneri is a very popular single-leaf cattleya, classified as a spring-flowering species. Bulbs are club-shaped about 40-50 cm long, slightly flattened. The leaves are elliptical, considerably shorter averaging 15-22 cm long. Peduncles are short no more than 15 cm long, have 3-5 flowers. Flowers 15-20 cm in diameter, very fragrant. Sepals and petals are light lilac. The lip has a fringed front lobe, purple in color and a yellow-orange throat with white or purple veins. This cattleya has many varieties with flower colors in variations of lilac, lavender, light lilac and white. The original form of the species is very similar to that of "Cattleya labiata." They could easily be confused if it were not for too different flowering periods: May-June at Cattleya Varner and September-November at Cattleya Labosty.
Cattleys - Care and Cultivation
Cattlei (and their hybrids) are conventionally divided into spring-flowering and autumn-flowering. Differences in growing conditions exist both in different species and within the same species in different forms. But, nevertheless, cattleys are quite flexible orchids and get used to the created microclimate, which is primarily due to the creation of a very bright place, a fairly high humidity and a constant influx of fresh air. The mandatory dormancy period for at least 2 months with dry content, daily temperature fluctuations and daylight hours are very critical for cattlei flowering.
Most of the cuttlefish plants with a pronounced dormant period. Moreover, some single-leafed cattlefish have two dormant-before and post-flowering periods; in two-leafed forms, the dormancy period is usually not so clear, and its duration depends on the conditions of the orchid. In some species native to areas with minor seasonal differences, such as Cattleya violacea, there is no pronounced dormancy period.
Temperature
Cattleys are mostly moderately thermophilic, and they require daily temperature fluctuations of at least 7-12 ° C. In summer, the optimal temperature is about 22-26 ° C, but preferably not higher than 30 ° C. Night minimum 12-14 ° C. In winter, the rest period when kept in cool conditions, for most, 15-16 ° C is enough, at least 10 ° C. Some species (Bowring's cattleya hybrids) need cooler wintering at 10-12 ° C, and in summer no higher than 25 ° C.
Lighting
Cattleys are photophilous, the best place for them is the eastern and western windows, on the southern window you will need shading in the hottest hours of the day. The flowering of some single-leaved cattleias stimulates short daylight hours (less than 12 hours). If we proceed from the exact numbers, then the American Orchid Society American Orchid Society voices the needs of cattles in lighting as follows: in spring and summer, 20,000 lux is enough on sunny days, more intense sun can lead to overheating of plants. In winter, 40,000 lux is needed - this is the maximum available solar lighting on the southern window in central Russia.
Watering and top dressing
Watering at ordinary room temperature twice a week, despite the fact that the substrate should have time to dry out in 1-1.5 days completely. Since autumn, the frequency of watering should be reduced if plants dry longer! It all depends on the temperature - it can be once a week or one and a half. And if in winter orchids are in deep coolness, watering is very rare, almost dry, so as only to prevent strong wrinkling of pseudobulbs. Too abundant (frequent) watering during the rest period inevitably leads to rot of the roots, if the cattleya is stable enough, then the minimum that threatens it is a lag in the growth and development of new bulbs in the spring. In the worst case, the plant will die.
The incentive to bloom is to reduce watering at the end of the vegetation, not while flower buds appear, but before they appear. Watering can be reduced, even if the cattleya drives a new leaf, it will not harm her. But if you continue to water intensively during the formation of a peduncle, it can "fall asleep ."
At the beginning of growth (from April to July), cattleys are fed with special fertilizer for orchids with an NPK ratio of 18-12-18. Regardless of the time of year and month, you need to finish feeding before new bulbs fully ripen at the end of formation. If you continue to water intensively, the orchid does not move to the flowering phase, but continues to increase new bulbs. Overfeeding with fertilizers inhibits not only flowering, but also inhibits the growth of cuttles.
Even in a clay pot, cuttles must have holes in the walls.Air humidity
Cattleys require a high humidity of about 70-80%, with very good air movement, so it is better to place it near a tray of water or wet pebbles. You can grow in a wide aquarium (of course, pour water only a little to the bottom), if you have a fan. Air humidity is maintained high regardless of the season, but the lock with a natural drop in temperature, it automatically holds about 50-55%, but in a heated room it is much higher, which affects orchids in an unfavorable way. The problem is not to increase humidity in winter, but to find a colder and shaded place for a cattleya. By the way, do not forget that high humidity is dangerous with poor ventilation. But for cuttles, it is not enough to place a fan next to the plants - it is not useful to drive the stained air of the room back and forth, you need an influx of oxygen, so you should think over the ventilation system of the apartment.
Flight connections
Transplantation is carried out when the roots no longer fit in the pot. Substrate - pieces of pine bark, forest moss, pieces of foam or coconut chips. You can plant cattleys in hanging baskets, and small plants - on blocks (pieces of bark, stumps of tree branches), in Europe and America blocks of fern roots are used. The choice of landing method depends on the conditions of detention. So, when kept in a room greenhouse, it is necessary to fit into a basket without a substrate or on a block. Without a greenhouse - in the bark.
American Orchid Society magazine, Bruno Ditler interview Bruno Ditzler (an amateur and collector who grows orchids in four greenhouses in Basel): "I plant cattleys in the ground in the following proportions: 80% fir bark, 10% charcoal and 10% foam. For irrigation, exclusively rainwater collected from the drainage from the roofs is used. Moreover, before watering, the water is heated to 20 ° C." Watering is carried out from a garden hose, which is no wonder, because Brugo Dietler has many orchids in three greenhouses. Since the wetting from the hose is short-lived, orchids are additionally "washed away" daily from the humidifier. However, this is permissible only in conditions of automatic air circulation (Bruno has several fans in greenhouses).
Reproduction: By division, with at least two pseudobulbs remaining in each part, with a growth point.