Cattleya 2

Cattleya or the Queen of Orchids (Cattleya)

This exquisite and stunningly beautiful Cattleya, rightfully called the "Queen of Orchids" worldwide, is a true embodiment of luxury and tropical elegance. Unlike the commonly found phalaenopsis, cattleyas stand out with their unique growth pattern (they form shoots or pseudobulbs) and exceptionally large, expressive, and often wonderfully fragrant flowers. It is an elegant, prestigious, and visually impressive houseplant that will add a romantic, distinctly exotic, and colorful natural accent to any interior. It is a desirable and highly valuable gift for orchid collectors, flowering plant lovers, and anyone who appreciates nature’s works of art!

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

• ☀️ Light: Bright but diffused light. For the cattleya to bloom, it needs a lot of light (more than ordinary orchids), but it must be protected from harsh southern sun rays. An east or west-facing windowsill is ideal. Important indicator: healthy cattleya leaves should be light green, not dark green! Dark green leaves indicate the plant lacks enough light to form flower buds.

• 💧 Watering: Abundant but infrequent! Cattleyas are epiphytes whose roots need to breathe. Between watering, the substrate (usually pine bark) should be allowed to almost completely dry out. The best method is to soak the pot in lukewarm water for 10–15 minutes, then let the excess water drain completely. The plant’s roots must never sit in standing water, or they will rot very quickly.

• 🌡️ Temperature/Humidity: Likes warmth during the day and slightly cooler air at night – these temperature fluctuations stimulate flowering. It will greatly appreciate increased air humidity. You can place it on a pebble tray with water or near a humidifier, but the plant itself and especially the flowers should not be misted to avoid fungal diseases.

• 🐾 Pets: Pet-friendly. This refined tropical beauty is non-toxic and completely safe to have in your home with cats and dogs!

🏠 BEST ROOM:

• Bright living room windowsill (east or west side, where the plant will receive morning or afternoon sun).

• Bathroom with a large window (an absolutely ideal environment if it has naturally high humidity from the shower and plenty of light).

• Bright bedroom (as a stunning, safe, and often fragrant accent in the morning light).

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Height: 15-20 cm

• Pot diameter: 12 cm

⚠️ Note: Plants are living organisms, so each specimen may differ slightly from the picture. It is important to remember the growth specifics of cattleyas: they only bloom from new, mature shoots (pseudobulbs). Once an old bulb has finished blooming, it will not bloom again, but it must not be cut off, as it serves as an energy and water reservoir for growing new shoots! Only completely dried and yellow leaves or bulbs should be cut off. The substrate must be airy – cattleyas should not be planted in regular houseplant soil!