How to Plant and Cultivate Cattleya Orchids
The editor answers for you how to plant Cattleya orchids and the cultivation methods of Cattleya flowers in the aspect of green plants and flowers. Let's learn about it together next.
Cattleya orchids belong to the Orchidaceae family and are native to India, Myanmar, Thailand, and southern China. Cattleya orchids are horticultural varieties, bred from large-flowered native species such as Juedanlan, Hutoulan, Xiangyabai, Biyulan, Meihualan, and Huangchanlan through multiple generations of hybridization, so they come in a variety of colors, covering almost all colors. Next, let's introduce how to cultivate Cattleya orchids.
1. Temperature
Cattleya orchids do not have high requirements for temperature and can even grow in an environment above 35 degrees; during the bud stage, they should be placed in a warm place to grow, with the temperature not exceeding 5 degrees.
2. Watering
Watering is one of the most important aspects of cultivating Cattleya orchids. Use slightly acidic water for watering, preferably well water and spring water, and if tap water is used, it should be left to stand for 2 days to allow chlorine to evaporate. In summer, water every 2-3 days and frequently spray water around the plant to maintain an environmental humidity of 80%-90%.
3. Light
In the summer and autumn seasons, provide shading to prevent direct sunlight and exposure, while in other seasons, they can be exposed to full-day sunlight.
4. Soil
As the roots of Cattleya orchids are fleshy and have weak penetration, it is necessary to use a loose, breathable, and well-draining substrate. A mixture of aquatic plants, tree bark, coconut shell, etc., can be used as a substrate.
5. Fertilization
In spring and autumn, when the plant is in the growing stage, apply a thin fertilizer solution every 10 days. Use nitrogen fertilizer in spring and summer, and increase the content of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers before the autumn flowering period; during the seedling stage and dormancy period, foliar spraying can be used.
6. Repotting
When the plant is too large, repotting and dividing the plant into new pots should be done. Remove the plant from the pot, cut off the rotting roots, place a layer of broken tiles at the bottom of the new pot to increase drainage and aeration, then put the plant in the pot, fill in the soil and compact it, and then water thoroughly.
7. Diseases and Pests
The main diseases of Cattleya orchids include leaf blight, anthracnose, soft rot, and leaf spot, while the main pests include aphids, red spiders, and scale insects. Diseases can be controlled with chemicals like captan or carbendazim; pests can be sprayed with diazinon, dimethoate emulsion, dicofol, or dichlorvos, applying twice a month.
The above content about how to plant and cultivate Cattleya orchids and the cultivation methods of Cattleya flowers is hoped to be helpful to green plant enthusiasts!