Cattleya intermedia

Also known as: Intermediate Cattleya or Cattleya intermedia h.f. amesiana Cattleya intermedia h.f. alba-aquinii Cattleya intermedia h.f. amethystina-multiforme Cattleya intermedia h.f. aquinii-concolor Cattleya intermedia h.f. aquinii-orlata Cattleya intermedia h.f. coerulea-punctata Cattleya intermedia h.f. delicata Cattleya intermedia h.f. striata Cattleya intermedia h.f. coerulea-orlata Cattleya intermedia h.f. alba-dutra Cattleya intermedia h.f. albescens-striata Cattleya intermedia h.f. typica-multiforme Cattleya intermedia h.f. variegata Cattleya intermedia h.f. venosa Cattleya intermedia h.f. albescens Cattleya intermedia h.v. multiforme Cattleya intermedia h.f. flammea Cattleya intermedia h.f. flammea-orlata Cattleya intermedia h.f. aquinii-vinicolor Cattleya intermedia h.f. aquinii-coerulea Cattleya intermedia h.f. semialba Cattleya intermedia h.f. concolor Cattleya intermedia h.f. vinicolor Cattleya intermedia h.f. violacea Cattleya intermedia h.f. lilacina Cattleya intermedia h.f. coerulea-marginata Cattleya intermedia h.f. orlata-semialba Cattleya intermedia h.f. punctata Cattleya intermedia h.f. rubra Cattleya intermedia h.f. suavissima Cattleya intermedia h.f. suave Cattleya intermedia h.f. sanguinea Cattleya intermedia h.f. orlata-roxovioleta Cattleya intermedia h.f. oculata Cattleya intermedia h.v. gigantea Cattleya intemedia h.f. orlata Cattleya intermedia h.f. flammea-vinicolor Cattleya intermedia h.f. candida-splendida Cattleya intermedia h.f. orlata-vinicolor Cattleya intermedia h.f. irrorata Cattleya intermedia h.f. coerulea-flammea Cattleya intermedia h.f. aquinii-flammea Cattleya amabilis h.f. alba Cattleya intermedia h.f. carnea-semialba Cattleya intermedia h.v. irrorata Cattleya loddigesii var. amethystina Cattleya maritima Cattleya ovata Cattleya amabilis Cattleya intermedia var. angustifolia Cattleya intermedia h.v. seideliana Epidendrum intermedium Cattleya intermedia h.f. concolor-rosea Cattleya intermedia h.f. aquinii Cattleya intermedia h.f. orlata Cattleya intermedia f. parthenia Cattleya intermedia var. variegata Cattleya gibeziae Cattleya intermedia f. amethystina Cattleya intermedia var. gibeziae Cattleya intermedia var. pallida Cattleya intermedia var. parthenia Cattleya intermedia var. punctatissima Cattleya intermedia var. macrochila Cattleya lindleyana Bletia lindleyana Cattleya aquinii Cattleya intermedia h.f. coerulea Cattleya amethystina Cattleya intermedia var. amethystina Cattleya intermedia h.f. alba Laelia lindleyana in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Brazil Paraguay Uruguay

General Information

Intermediate Cattleya is a sympodial cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 12-30cm. Each new growth has numerous erect elliptic leaves that grow to 5-15cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 12-30cm

Flowers

Numerous fragrant blossoms appear during Winter and Spring

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant. The fragrance can be described as discernible and little

Blooming Season

• Spring
• Winter

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Bark
• Charcoal
• Sand

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

The orchids are well adapted for hot weather, accompanied by sporadic, unpredictable rainfall and a generally dry climate. They can tolerate a lot of neglect as they are quite used to it, however they can be prone to underwatering and may collapse in cold, wet weather.

For this reason it's best to dedicate a sheltered, protected area for them where the watering can be controlled, such as a corner of a greenhouse or in a sheltered balcony. They can also do well hung near the roof of a shadehouse or sheltered greenhouse where they receive the extra heat but not as much water as other plants. 

Grows at low elevations. Rainfall ranges from 56mm to 193mm per day, heaviest in July and lightest in January. Humidity ranges from 78% to 81%, highest in March and lowest in June. Temperature ranges from 14C to 28C, highest in July (22C to 28C) and lowest in January (14C to 21C).

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,

This plant does very well in baskets or suspended pots This plant does well mounted to Cork slabs. Repotting is best done in a pot the same size or only slightly larger than the previous one.