How to Care for a Cattleya Orchid to Make It Grow Best
This article provides you with knowledge about how to care for a Cattleya orchid to make it grow best and the maintenance and pruning aspects of Cattleya orchid care. Next, the editor of this site will introduce it to everyone.
When pruning a Cattleya orchid, you can remove the top lateral buds, but the bottom ones near the soil must be preserved. The old branches that have bloomed can also be cut, but since most blooms occur on old branches and new ones do not flower, special attention must be taken when pruning old branches, choosing those that are over 5 years old to cut off, and preserving the rest. Let me explain in detail below.
1. Pruning Lateral Buds
When pruning, keep the lateral buds near the soil and remove the top ones, cut off excess branches and leaves, and retain only 3-4 main stem segments to maintain an aesthetically pleasing plant shape.
2. Pinching Off New Spears
When the new spears of the Cattleya orchid reach 30-40 cm in length, pinch off the tip of the new spear to prevent it from growing longer, which can lead to uneven thickness and affect the aesthetic appearance.
3. Pruning Old and Diseased Branches
When pruning a Cattleya orchid, you can cut off some of the old branches that have bloomed, as branches that have bloomed twice will gradually become woody and will not bloom again. Alternatively, cut off branches that are over 5 years old and remove any diseased or weak ones. After blooming, simply cut off the flower petals from the branches that can bloom.
4. Thinning Branches
When the Cattleya orchid grows vigorously with abundant branches, they may compete for nutrients, and too dense branching can affect blooming. Use a sterilized pair of scissors to cut off overlapping, tangled, and overly long branches to increase the space between them, promoting better light absorption and better bud development. Moreover, excess lateral buds on the main stem should also be removed in a timely manner to maintain a perfect plant shape.
The above is a detailed explanation about how to care for a Cattleya orchid to make it grow best and the maintenance and pruning of Cattleya orchids. I hope this article can provide you with help in green plant management!