Cattleya and Laelia are among the most popular orchids and for good reason.
They usually have large, wonderful flowers that last a long time and they come in different colors and sometimes with fragrance. Like 90% of all other orchids, Cattleya and Laelia are epiphytes meaning that in nature they grow with their roots attached to tree trunks and branches. They have developed water storage organs, namely pseudobulbs and have thick, sponge-like roots that can absorb large amounts of water.
In nature, they are adapted to dry up between waterings, so it is important that they are potted in airy substrate which can be coarse orchid bark, leca balls or coarse coconut chips mixed with a little coarse mineral substrate .
Light is one of the most important factors for the growth and flowering of Cattleya and Laelia. Whether you grow these plants on the windowsill or in a greenhouse, it is important to give them plenty of light and shield them a little only from the strongest sun in the middle of the day. In winter, there may be a need for plant lights for the best possible well-being. I grow mine under 200 watt light panel .
In the living room, you can place the plants in an east- or west-facing window as well as a south-facing one as long as you shield them a little in the summer. The leaves of Cattleya and Laelia should be of a slightly lighter green color and the plant should stand well upright.
When it comes to temperature, normal room temperature is perfect for them. They can withstand temperatures up to +30 C for shorter periods. Higher temperatures are handled better with increased humidity, air circulation and less light.
You can water Cattleya and Laelia either in the shower/under the tap so that it flows well through the drainage holes in the pot or by letting them absorb water for about 30 minutes to an hour and then pour the water out. Regardless of the watering method, the pots should dry up before they are watered again. It is worth mentioning that plants in active growth require more water than those at rest.
Like all other orchids, these like the right humidity. For the best possible growth, the humidity should be between 50 and 80%. This can be achieved with an air blower or by placing containers of water between or under the plants. Care should then be taken that the plants do not stand in water. At the same time, there should be good air circulation around the plants to avoid fungal and bacterial infection.
The plants should be fertilized with a weak solution of complete fertilizer with every watering during the growing season (March-October) and every 3rd watering during the winter rest. To avoid the accumulation of salts in the substrate, it is recommended to rinse the pot well once a month.
Repotting of Cattleya and Laelia is necessary when the new growth is outside the edge of the pot or when the substrate is in poor condition. The best time for repotting is in the spring or in the winter right after flowering. If the plant is so large that it can be divided, it should be divided into pieces with a minimum of 3 pseudobulbs each. Old and dead roots can be removed and one should be careful with the new roots. The plant should be potted in airy and well-draining sun strata and an advantage may be to pot in transparent plastic pots with holes to be able to better observe root development and for better root development.
Like all other plants, these orchids can be attacked by pests such as aphids, scale insects, and less often thrips and aphids. These, and all other pests, can be controlled with neem oil . Neem oil is a natural product that does not lead to resistance in the pests and is not toxic to humans and other animals.
If pests are observed, the plants should be sprayed well with a solution of 1 teaspoon of neem oil and 2 teaspoons of green soap per liter of water at room temperature. This should be repeated 1-2 times at 5-7 day intervals to catch the pests that hatch from eggs in the meantime.
Preventatively, you can spray all your plants with neem oil solution once every 3 weeks or more often if desired. You should therefore not expose the plants to strong sun immediately after spraying with neem oil.
