| Issue #48, March 9, 2007 |
The Garden At Rock Cottage
A Plant for All Seasons
by Lance Brilliantine
A recent weekend in the greenhouse reminded me of the beauty of orchids. While we have many different varieties, cattlyea orchids are particularly beautiful, though often passed by for the more common phalaenopsis and oncidium orchids. People think cattlyeas are hard to cultivate. Not true!
My interest and experience with cattlyeas shows they are among the most rewarding orchids to grow. Cattlyeas come in almost every size and color – red, green, yellow, white, purple, crimson, pink, and many combinations thereof. Some are fragrant. The petals remind one of the beauty of youthful skin. There are hundreds of cultivars and hybrids. Different cultivars come into bloom at different times of the year. In fact, Cattlyeas have so many different shapes, sizes, and blooming times that a whole lifetime could be spent in perpetual enjoyment of just this one type of orchid.
It is believed cattlyea orchids spread from Mexico south to Brazil. Most people associate the cattlyea with Hawaii, where it is now a primary industry, but the orchid probably did not originate there. Cattlyeas are classified under the family name Orchidiae. The genus, Cattlyea, is named for the English collector, William Cattley, who brought examples to the United Kingdom around 1815. While there are hundreds of varieties available today, probably only 40 naturally occurred in the wild.
Cattlyea orchids are epiphytic, meaning their roots typically grow in the crevices and notches of trees where they are drenched in rainwater and then dry out. The roots benefit from some exposure to the elements. These orchids are also accustomed to high humidity. These two factors are the keys to growing these orchids successfully.
The best potting mixture for cattlyeas is one that is a combination of grit mixed with wood chips, osmunda fiber, or peat, or a combination thereof. (A little shredded oak leaf or leaf mold thrown in does not hurt!) Try to simulate what you might see in the crevice of a tree, rather than purchase one of the commercial orchid mixes – you will have better results relying on your instincts. When growing cattlyeas, use a terra cotta orchid pot with side slits, or knock a few extra holes in an existing pot. Avoid using plastic pots, as they tend to retain too much water.
Since cattlyea stems grows horizontally from the side of the plant, a cattlyea should be positioned so the growing side of the plant has the most space to expand. Based on the cultivar, the orchid may need to be repotted every two or three years. However, keep in mind that some confinement in the pot sparks flowering. Cattlyeas grow quite large, so be prepared to slowly increase the size of the pot as the plant grows.
These orchids benefit from drying out between waterings, but not always completely. I have found that keeping the orchid somewhat consistently moist during active growth is beneficial and helps the flower bud to set. Depending on the type of cattlyea you have and its blooming period, reduce water slightly as new growth starts then increase it as a flower sheath develops. Keep intermittently moist and dry thereafter to promote development of the flower.
While many people suggest fertilizing cattlyeas, I have found the plant does best with no additions to its nutrition, provided that the growing medium is replaced every few years as it decomposes. Humidity is more important than fertilizing. I suggest placing the plant in a location where it can benefit from the humidity created by a shower stall or by placing the plant over a pan of rocks that are consistently wet.
Cattlyeas also like high-intensity light – the more the better. However, they can get burned from direct midday sun, Place plants in a southeastern exposure where they can get morning sun but not midday sun. If a southern window is available, it will work with screening from blinds or curtains. (That said, I have one cattlyea sitting on a heater in New York City that gets direct sunlight all day that it is doing quite well.)
Cattlyeas require fairly strong heat to prosper, so are not a good choice for over-wintering in locations where the temperature drops to 55 degrees or less. These orchids do best in moderately warm conditions with daytime temperatures of seventy degrees or higher, and evening temperatures at about sixty degrees. Environments that provide a ten-to-fifteen degree shift from night to day seem most conducive to the plant’s health.
Every household ought to explore this wonderful orchid. The Internet offers a variety of orchid growers that can provide plants. Maybe it is time to invest in at least one!
You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.
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