Cattleya tigrina

Also known as: King Leopold's Cattleya or Cattleya tigrina h.f. alba-aquinii Cattleya leopoldii h.f. cuprea Cattleya tigrina h.f. albaviridis Cattleya tigrina h.f. flavescens Cattleya tigrina h.f. aquinii Cattleya tigrina h.f. coerulea-semialba Cattleya leopoldii h.f. aquinii Cattleya tigrina h.f. lisa-rosea Cattleya leopoldii h.f. lisa Cattleya tigrina h.f. lilacina Cattleya leopoldii h.f. planilabia Cattleya leopoldii h.f. aquinii-venosa Cattleya leopoldii h.f. flavescens Cattleya leopoldii h.f. caramelo Cattleya leopoldii h.f. albescens Cattleya leopoldii h.f. semialba Cattleya tigrina h.f. coerulea Cattleya leopoldii h.f. purpurea Cattleya tigrina h.f. carmesim Cattleya tigrina h.f. cuprea Cattleya tigrina h.f. xanthina Cattleya tigrina h.f. vinicolor Cattleya tigrina h.f. planilabia Cattleya tigrina h.f. lisa Cattleya tigrina h.f. albescens Cattleya leopoldii h.f. xanthina Cattleya leopoldii h.f. rosea Cattleya leopoldii h.f. aquinii-lisa Cattleya leopoldii h.f. lilacina Cattleya leopoldii h.f. aquinii-rosea Cattleya tigrina h.f. alba Cattleya leopoldii h.f. alba-aquinii Cattleya leopoldii h.f. coerulea-lisa Cattleya tigrina h.f. semialba Epidendrum elatius var. leopoldii Cattleya tigrina h.v. pabstia Cattleya leopoldii h.v. leopoldina Cattleya leopoldii f. alba Cattleya leopoldii var. immaculata Cattleya leopoldii h.v. supergigante Cattleya leopoldii h.v. guaratuba Cattleya leopoldii h.f. labeloide Cattleya leopoldii h.f. venosa Cattleya guttata subvar. immaculata Cattleya guttata var. purpurea Cattleya guttata var. williamsiana Cattleya leopoldii f. coerulea Cattleya leopoldii f. immaculata Cattleya leopoldii var. williamsiana Cattleya tigrina var. williamsiana Cattleya tigrina var. purpurea Cattleya tigrina var. leopardina Cattleya tigrina var. immaculata Cattleya tigrina var. caerulea Cattleya leopoldii Cattleya leopoldii var. alba Cattleya guttata var. leopardina Cattleya guttata var. leopoldii Cattleya leopoldii h.f. vinicolor Cattleya sororia Cattleya leopoldii var. leopardina Cattleya leopoldii var. purpurea Cattleya leopoldii h.v. leopoldii in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Brazil Uruguay

General Information

King Leopold's Cattleya is a large sympodial warm to hot growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Brazil and Uruguay.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 35-122cm. Each new growth has numerous leathery erect, elliptic, oblong shaped leaves that grow to 6-22cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 1-122cm

Flowers

Numerous fragrant blossoms appear during Summer and Autumn

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Blooming Season

• Autumn
• Summer

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Bark
• Charcoal

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 elevations. Rainfall ranges from 104mm to 312mm per day, heaviest in September and lightest in February. Humidity ranges from 76% to 82%, highest in March and lowest in June. Temperature ranges from 16C to 29C, highest in August (22C to 29C) and lowest in January (16C to 23C).

Watering

These orchids are sensitive to excessive watering and should only be watered when they look thirsty. Water infrequently and ensure that the roots are dry before watering. Keep an eye on them especially during hot weather as overwatering can lead to rot, whereas underwatering may result in wilting or shriveling, which while unattractive, will not kill the plant.

Keep moisture levels up during hot weather as the plant is prone to dehydration

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. Reduce fertiliser when plant is dormant during Spring.

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.