Cattleya gaskelliana

Also known as: Gaskell's Cattleya or Cattleya gaskelliana h.v. amabilis Cattleya gaskelliana h.v. amabilis Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. concolor Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. concolor Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. albescens Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. albescens Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. amoena Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. amoena Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. coerulescens Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. coerulescens Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. suave Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. suave Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. delicata-semialba Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. delicata-semialba Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. suavissima Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. suavissima Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. semialba Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. semialba Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. coerulea Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. coerulea Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. amesiana Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. amesiana Cattleya gaskelliana h.v. gaskelliana Cattleya gaskelliana h.v. gaskelliana Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. semiconcolor Cattleya gaskelliana h.f. semiconcolor Cattleya labiata var. gaskelliana Cattleya labiata var. gaskelliana Cattleya gaskelliana f. alba Cattleya gaskelliana f. alba Cattleya gaskelliana var. alba Cattleya gaskelliana var. alba Cattleya elegantissima Cattleya elegantissima in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

General Information

Gaskell's Cattleya is a sympodial warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 43cm. Each new growth has a single leathery thick leaf that grows to 7-23cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 2-20cm

Flowers

Numerous fragrant blossoms appear during Summer and Spring

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Blooming Season

• Spring
• Summer

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Medium
• Bark
• Charcoal
• Perlite

Care Notes

These orchids like to be kept on the dry side, but may need to be watered daily during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered regularly.

These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.

Fragrant:

• IsFragrant

Climate

Grows at low to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 36mm to 206mm per day, heaviest in June and lightest in March. Humidity ranges from 77% to 86%, highest in June and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 17C to 29C, highest in April (19C to 29C) and lowest in January (17C to 26C).

Fertiliser

Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.

Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a high Nitrogen fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer.

Potting

These plants are quite forgiving and will do well repotted ever 2-3 years. The mix should be coarse, well draining, and allow space for air to move and for roots to grow. 

Alternatively, these plants will also do well mounted to tree fern or cork slabs, or mounted to trees.

Best time for repotting or mounting the orchids is the end of winter when new growths start to appear. Avoid repotting during hot weather,