Cattleya luteola

Also known as: Pale Yellow Cattleya or Cattleya luteola h.f. aurea Cattleya luteola h.f. concolor Hoffmannseggella x meyeriana Hoffmannseggella meyeri Cattleya modesta Cattleya meyeri Cattleya epidendroides Cattleya holfordii Cattleya flavida Epidendrum luteolum Cattleya luteola var. roezlii Cattleya luteola var. multiflora Cattleya luteola var. lepida Cattleya luteola var. fastuosa Cattleya sulphurea in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Brazil Ecuador

General Information

Pale Yellow Cattleya is a dwarf sympodial cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Brazil and Ecuador.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 15-30cm. Each new growth has a single leathery leaf that grows to 7-18cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 5-15cm

Flowers

Numerous fragrant blossoms appear during Autumn

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Blooming Season

• Autumn

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Bark

Care Notes

These orchids like to be watered regulary, especially during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered daily or even many times a day.

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 132mm to 345mm per day, heaviest in October and lightest in February. Humidity ranges from 73% to 86%, highest in October and lowest in June. Temperature ranges from 18C to 31C, highest in March (19C to 31C) and lowest in January (18C to 28C).

Watering

These orchids prefer a wet-dry cycle between waterings, they should be watered frequently but only when the moisture is approaching dryness, where the pot feels light and/or the media looks dry. Keep an eye on mounted orchids in warm weather as they may dehydrate quickly.

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.

Be sure to flush out excess fertiliser by running water through the media regularly year round. 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 well mounted to Cork slabs.