How to grow cattleya orchids

More on growing orchids:

• 10 exotic orchids to grow
• How to care for orchids
• How to repot orchids

Cattleyas are epiphytic plants and, in their native habitats, grow clinging to trees and rocks, taking nutrients and moisture from the warm, humid conditions of the surrounding rainforest. It's possible to mimic these rainforest conditions when growing cattleyas as indoor plants. The flower stems produce between two and eight flowers, depending on the variety of cattleya and there are many different colours to choose from, so they are well worth the effort.

Grow gorgeous cattleya orchids, with the help of our Grow Guide, below.

Where to grow cattleya orchids

Grow cattleya orchids in a warm, bright spot, but away from direct sunlight, particularly through the summer. Minimum night temperatures of 10-15ºC are needed, along with a slightly humid atmosphere. Some air movement from a fan is recommended.

Planting cattleya orchids

Cattleya orchids grow well in pots with bark and rocks or perlite, which is as close as we can get to recreating their natural growing conditions. You can mix up your own or buy commercially made compost. Cattleyas can be grown in normal terracotta pots, but grow better when space is restricted, so don't choose a pot that's much bigger than the root ball.

Propagating cattleya orchids

Cattleya flower stems develop from a pseudobulb that grows from a new bud at the base of the plant. Mature plants may have lots of pseudobulbs – if there are over eight, you can divide the thick rhizome to make two plants for potting on. Divide when the plant isn't in flower.

Cattleya orchids: problem-solving

Look out for mealybug or scale insects. Both are small sap-feeders and can be tricky to spot, often choosing to lodge themselves in crevices, so inspect closely. Heavy infestations of either are difficult to treat, so you may be better off getting rid of the plant. You could also try a biological control such as ladybirds or parasitic wasps.

Caring for cattleya orchids

From March to September water cattleyas twice a week. Feed with orchid fertiliser every two weeks. In winter, water when the compost looks dry – it's better to under- rather than overwater. Cut back the new flower spike after flowering. Repot your orchid every two to three years, although not because plants look pot-bound. When you see the roots wrapping around the base of the plant it's the way plants might grow in the wild if they were clinging onto a rock or tree.

Relate content: Advice on caring for orchids

Cattleya orchids to grow

• Cattleya 'Green Mist' – the white flowers have a brilliant crimson lip
• Cattleya mossiae – large flowers in colours from yellow to lavender
• Cattleya bowringiana – the spikes of this species can carry as many as 20 of the vivid pink flowers at a time, from autumn to winter. It will tolerate lower temperatures if kept quite dry
• Cattleya bicolor – this is one of the bifoliate group, with smaller flowers, but more of them. Colours range from green to yellow, brown pink and lavender
• Cattleya 'King of Taiwan' – a beautiful hybrid with rich purple flowers