Description

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🌸 Cattleya Orchid Care — Alan’s Garden Guide

Cattleya orchids are famous for their fragrant, large, colourful blooms. They are easier than Vandas and need bright light + moderate watering.

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☀️ Light Requirements

• Needs bright, indirect sunlight.
• Can tolerate light morning sun, but avoid harsh midday sun.
• Ideal location: bright verandas, east-facing windows, polyhouse with shade net (50%).

Leaf colour guide:

• Light green = perfect
• Dark green = needs more light
• Yellow/burn patches = too much direct sun

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🌡️ Temperature

• Day: 22–30°C
• Night: 15–20°C
• Cattleyas like temperature drops at night, which helps flowering.

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💧 Watering

Cattleyas have pseudobulbs that store water.

• Water every 3–4 days in normal weather.
• In summer: every 2–3 days
• In monsoon/cool weather: 5–6 days or only when media is dry.

Rule:
👉 Allow the medium to dry 80% before watering again.

Overwatering will cause pseudobulb rot.

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💦 Humidity

• Needs 50–70% humidity.
• Mist plants lightly in hot weather (avoid misting at night to prevent fungus).
• Good airflow is very important.

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🌱 Potting Mix

Cattleyas prefer fast-draining medium:

✔️ Medium – large orchid bark
✔️ Charcoal pieces
✔️ Broken clay pot chips
✔️ Perlite (optional)

Best pot: Clay pot or slatted basket.

Repot every 2 years or when medium breaks down.

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🌿 Fertilizing

Feed lightly but regularly:

• Balanced NPK 20-20-20 → Weekly
• Bloom booster (10-30-20) → Twice a month during spike formation
• Flush with plain water once every month to avoid salt build-up.

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🌼 Flowering Tips

• Needs bright light – most important!
• Night temperature drop triggers blooms.
• Avoid repotting when the plant is preparing to flower.
• Keep plant slightly root-bound for better flowering.

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🐛 Pests & Issues

Mealybugs / aphids

• Remove manually + spray neem oil weekly.

Black rot / pseudobulb rot

• Caused by overwatering.
• Cut rotten parts + apply fungicide (mancozeb/copper).

Leaf spots

• Improve airflow + avoid wetting leaves at nigh