Cattleya
Cattleya spp. and hybrids
📖 About this plant
The ‘queen of orchids’ and the orchid most people picture when they think of orchids. Cattleyas produce large, flamboyant, ruffled flowers in spectacular colors — white, lavender, purple, pink, red, yellow, and green — often with contrasting lips and intricate patterns. The fragrance varies from subtle to intensely sweet depending on the species and hybrid. A classic corsage orchid with dramatic, show-stopping blooms.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect to full sun (4-6 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate to high (50-70%)
18-28°C
Medium to coarse-grade orchid bark with perlite, charcoal, and sphagnum moss; chunky mix is essential; many mounted on cork or driftwood
Balanced orchid fertilizer (20-20-20) at half strength every 2 weeks year-round; higher-nitrogen formula when new growth appears; bloom-boosting formula (10-30-20) when sheaths develop
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Central and South America — from Costa Rica to Argentina; primarily found as epiphytes in tropical and subtropical forests
- 📏 Max height
- 30-60 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring - Fall
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Pink, Purple, Yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets; one of the safest flowering houseplants
- 🌱 Propagation
- Division of pseudobulb clumps with at least 3-4 mature pseudobulbs per division; back-bulb propagation possible but slow
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic to humans and pets; one of the safest flowering houseplants
Common issues
- Bud blast from temperature fluctuations, Black rot on pseudobulbs, Scale insects
💡 Care tips
- The classic corsage orchid with large showy fragrant flowers,Requires a distinct dry rest period between waterings,Thick pseudobulbs store water so err on the dry side,Each flower spike typically produces 3-5 long-lasting blooms
