Cattleya trianae

Also known as: Christmas Orchid or Cattleya trianae h.v. lucida Cattleya trianae h.v. rimestadiana Cattleya trianae h.v. princeps Cattleya trianae h.v. platychila Cattleya trianae h.v. pallida Cattleya trianae h.v. memoria rodigasi Cattleya trianae h.v. memoria lindeni Cattleya trianae h.v. measuresiae Cattleya trianae h.v. rita Cattleya trianae h.v. majestica Cattleya trianae h.v. yvonne Cattleya trianae h.v. latissima Cattleya trianae h.v. imperator Cattleya trianae h.v. martin-cahuzac Cattleya trianae h.v. samyana Cattleya trianae h.v. fascinator Cattleya trianae h.v. villegontieriae Cattleya trianae h.v. deliciosa Cattleya trianae h.f. albo-rosea Cattleya trianae h.f. amoena-russa-semialba Cattleya trianae h.f. coerulea-semialba Cattleya trianae h.f. concolor-rosea Cattleya trianae h.f. oculata Cattleya trianae h.f. purpurata Cattleya trianae h.f. rosea Cattleya trianae h.f. striata Cattleya trianae h.f. orlata-pincelata Cattleya trianae h.v. triumphans Cattleya trianae h.f. obscura Cattleya trianae h.f. pincelata-rubra Cattleya trianae h.f. obscura-semialba Cattleya trianae h.f. semiconcolor Cattleya trianae h.f. albescens Cattleya trianae h.f. atropurpurea Cattleya trianae h.f. coerulea Cattleya trianae h.f. concolor Cattleya trianae h.f. delicata Cattleya trianae h.f. pincelata Cattleya trianae h.f. semialba Cattleya trianae h.v. amoena Cattleya trianae h.f. amesiana Cattleya trianae h.v. excelsior Cattleya trianae h.f. quasiconcolor Cattleya trianae h.v. exornata Cattleya trianae h.f. lunata Cattleya trianae h.f. coerulescens Cattleya trianae h.f. ceniza-coerulea Cattleya trianae h.f. ceniza Cattleya trianae h.f. cegata Cattleya trianae h.f. aquinii Cattleya trianae h.v. annae Cattleya trianae h.v. bicolor Cattleya trianae h.v. brandneriana Cattleya trianae h.v. capartiana Cattleya trianae h.v. cincta Cattleya trianae h.v. eminens Cattleya trianae h.f. coerulea-orlata Cattleya trianae h.f. backhousiana Cattleya trianae h.f. orlata Cattleya trianae h.v. candidula Cattleya trianae h.f. amoena Cattleya trianae h.v. morada Cattleya trianae h.f. orlata-rubra Cattleya trianae h.v. Sangre de Toro Cattleya trianae h.f. concolor-semialba Cattleya trianae h.f. flammea-orlata Cattleya trianae h.f. fantasia Cattleya trianae h.f. flammea-rubra Cattleya trianae h.f. anelata-concolor Cattleya trianae h.f. aquinii-orlata-semialba Cattleya trianae h.f. aquinii-semialba Cattleya trianae h.f. rubra Cattleya trianae h.v. Mooreana Cattleya trianae h.f. flammea Cattleya kimballiana Cattleya bogotensis Cattleya trianae var. formosa Cattleya trianae var. hooleana Epidendrum labiatum var. trianae Cattleya trianae var. reginae Cattleya trianae f. alba Cattleya trianae var. splendidissima Cattleya labiata var. trianae Cattleya trianae var. alba Cattleya trianae var. dodgsonii Cattleya trianae var. mariae Cattleya trianae var. vanneriana Cattleya trianae var. russelliana Cattleya trianae var. rosea Cattleya trianae var. quadricolor Cattleya trianae var. osmannii Cattleya trianae var. massangeana Cattleya trianae var. williamsii Cattleya trianae var. hillii Cattleya trianae var. corningii Cattleya trianae var. colemannii Cattleya trianae var. backhausiana Cattleya trianae f. crawshayana Cattleya labiata var. ernestii Cattleya labiata ssp. massangeana Cattleya trianae var. marginata in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Cundinamarca - Colombia Departamento del Huila - Colombia

General Information

Christmas Orchid is a large sympodial cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Colombia.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 40-60cm. Each new growth has a single leathery rigid leaf that grows to 7-30cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 8-30cm

Flowers

Numerous fragrant blossoms appear during Autumn and Winter

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Blooming Season

• Autumn
• Winter

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 33mm to 180mm per day, heaviest in November and lightest in January. Humidity ranges from 59% to 69%, highest in November and lowest in July. Temperature ranges from 18C to 27C, highest in July (19C to 27C) and lowest in October (18C to 25C).

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.