How to care for Cattleya orchids
This article provides information on the care of Cattleya orchids, including tips on how to care for them, which are quite useful. It is recommended to save this information for future reference!
Many orchid enthusiasts do not have a thorough understanding of Cattleya orchids. They buy them because they look beautiful and then search for information on how to care for them. In fact, Cattleya orchids are easy to care for from the time you buy them until the flowers fade. The difficulty lies in getting them to rebloom, which can be challenging for the second year.
I. How to care for Cattleya orchids
Cattleya orchids can adapt to low temperatures, with no issues between 10 to 30 degrees Celsius. Above 30 degrees, it is best to use ventilation, humidity, and shading to manage and reduce damage. In summer and autumn, during the rainy season, do not exceed 30 degrees during the day. If the temperature exceeds 30 degrees, increase air circulation to lower the leaf surface temperature, and there must be a significant day-night temperature difference to stimulate flower bud differentiation. Do not exceed 14 degrees at night, or the flower buds will not differentiate, or if they do, they will wither prematurely. In spring, ensure good air circulation during the day and place in a cooler environment to extend the blooming period, as outdoor temperatures are usually below 10 degrees at night, so do not place them outdoors.
When the surface of the potting soil is dry, water thoroughly. Normally, sprinkle water around the orchid pot to increase air humidity. Do not spray water on the leaves unless the environment is particularly dry, as this can cause brown spots. Reduce water during the blooming period and when no new buds have grown, keeping the potting soil slightly moist. When new buds appear, the water requirement increases. Temperature also affects watering. Reduce water when it is cold and increase it when it is hot. No fertilization is needed during the blooming period. Solid and liquid fertilizers can be alternated during the budding period, but the concentration should be low. Liquid standard fertilizer is usually diluted 1000 times, applied once every two weeks, and a small amount of solid fertilizer is sufficient. Do not fertilize in winter.
Good ventilation is essential for the normal growth of Cattleya orchids. When growing indoors, try to open windows to ensure air circulation. Use fans to increase air circulation in high temperatures or closed environments.
Cattleya orchids enjoy sunlight. They can be exposed to direct sunlight from the end of October to the entire winter. In spring, shading of 30% is needed, and in summer, shading of 30% to 40% is also required. If grown on a balcony, avoid high temperatures and intense sunlight in autumn and winter. Insufficient light is also detrimental to growth.
II. Suggestions for reblooming Cattleya orchids
1. If purchased as a potted plant for the New Year, there is no need to repot. Many experts on reblooming do not repot, and the dense roots in the pot do not need to be organized. Experts say that Cattleya orchids bloom in small pots.
2. For bare-root seedlings without pots, you can use medium-sized bark and humus soil, commonly used for growing Cattleya orchids. The pot should not be too large, and the planting method is similar to that of Cattleya orchids. If there are too many seedlings in one pot, they can be divided, usually 3-4 seedlings per pot. Too many seedlings make it difficult to rebloom.
3. For balcony cultivation, the plants need to be placed in a sunny location in spring without shading. In summer, shading is necessary, with the key being good ventilation, frequent application of compound fertilizer (slightly more than the amount needed for Cattleya orchid cultivation, i.e., applying thin fertilizers frequently, for example, if Cattleya orchids require a fertilizer diluted 1000 times, then Cattleya orchids can be diluted 800 times), and frequent watering (do not let the soil dry out completely, as this can severely damage the orchid, and water when the moisture content reaches 30%). If conditions allow, they can be placed outdoors. In general, a粗放 management approach is used.
4. Cattleya orchids require a vernalization process. Keep them at temperatures below 14 degrees Celsius for about 55 days at the end of autumn before bringing them indoors. In summer, spray water and ventilate to lower temperatures when above 30 degrees.
5. Handle diseases in Cattleya orchids the same way as with Cattleya orchids.
In summary, to achieve reblooming, the conditions are mainly strong light, more fertilizer, and pulling the temperature difference in autumn to induce flowering.
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