Cattleya Loddigesii: Care for and Cultivate Them Yourself

Cattleya Loddigessi from the Cattleya orchid genus is a fairly easy and hassle-free plant to grow, no matter your experience with orchids! So whether you are a frequent orchid gardener or someone just beginning to take an interest in this variety, you can grow them at your place easily.

In this comprehensive guide, we aim to be straightforward so that you can be the best plant parent to your epiphytic or terrestrial Cattleya orchids.

Cattleya Loddigesii Care: It’s Easier Than You Think

Continue ahead as we take you through a simple step by step route to caring for Cattleya Loddigesii:

Water Requirements

• Like most Cattleya orchids, Loddigesii also needs regular watering during its growth period.
• After watering, let the substrate dry before you water it the next time. This plant is highly susceptible to fungal infections if the water stays on its stem and roots for too long.
• You can physically check the state of the substrate before watering by sticking a pencil in it: unless it comes out dry, do not water it more.
• You can use regular tap water. But distilled, rainwater, or reverse osmosis water is the healthiest for your orchids.

How much water you need to give also depends on two additional factors:

1. The Condition Of The Roots

If Cattleya Loddigesii is mounted bare-rooted on a raft, they can tolerate more frequent watering because excess water will simply flow off it. On the other hand, potted plants tend to retain water in their substrate for longer and will need less frequent watering.

2. Atmospheric Humidity

If you live somewhere hot and dry, your Cattleya will need more watering. In case of humid locales or rainy days, you should probably skip the water.

Light Requirements

• All Cattleyas love bright light up to twenty-five thousand lux to fifty thousand lux. Loddigesii is no exception either.
• Bright light is a deciding factor in the proper blooming of these orchids. In the absence of enough light, they will not flower.
• The light provided should be indirect or filtered. Direct light will cause sunburn.

• We recommend you put your Loddigesii in an eastern or southern-facing window where they can receive mitigated early morning or evening light for at least fourteen hours daily during the growing season.
• If you want to place them somewhere without natural light, your next best option is bright LED lights. Trust us; they produce nearly the same effect as natural light.

Soil Requirements

The proper growth media is crucial for the successful growth of any plant. And the Cattleyas are no exception. Luckily for you, the soil requirements of Loddigesii are pretty easy to provide:

•  Your first option is to grow them bare-rooted by mounting them on a piece of raft or cork. Alternatively, they can be placed bare rooted in baskets as well.
• Your second option is to plant them in clay or plastic pots. With pots, you need a potting medium, and our florists suggest using any of the following: sphagnum moss, Todea, polypodium fiber, and staghorn peat mixed with large lumps of charcoal, osmunda fibers. Alternatively, large pieces of bark with sphagnum moss works too.

Temperature Requirements

Cattleya orchids need a temperature drop from day to night to stimulate their flower buds. You need to maintain an overall high temperature around your house-grown Loddigesii and ensure a temperature drop too.

• Average daytime temperature: 77-82 F
• Average nighttime temperature: 59-64 F

– Air Movement

Air movements and proper ventilation are very important for your Cattleyas. They prevent water droplets from settling on stems, roots, and leaves and the consequent rot that ensues.

For good air movements, some things you can do are:

• Move your orchid near a window. This window should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
• Use a ceiling fan or some other fan at slow speed both day and night.
• Transfer them outside for a time period between late May until early October. Don’t forget to keep them under some kind of shade while outdoors.

Humidity

You will need to provide seventh to eighty percent humidity to these orchids throughout the year. Some tips from our florists are as follows;

• Use a humidifier
• Fill a pebble tray with water and put it under the pot or logs
• Regularly mist your orchids

– Repot Cattleya Loddigesii

The ideal time to repot this orchid is early spring. Repotting should be handled with extreme care because the roots and rhizomes of Cattleyas, once damaged, quickly die and cannot be salvaged.

Learn out the proper method of repotting below:

1. Choose an appropriate pot. Clay pots offer good drainage and ventilation, but you can also buy plastic ones with slits and holes. We suggest a plastic one over clay for beginners, but if you are a pro, you can go ahead with a clay pot.
2. If the previous pot is a plastic one, it is usually possible to wiggle out the roots slowly and carefully. If it was a clay one, we suggest breaking it to take out the plant. Its roots are very sensitive. You should handle them with extreme care.
3. Cattleyas should only be repotted once every two to three years. Each time choose a pot that could last two to three years. Choose a loose, quick-drying media like sphagnum moss, peat, or charcoal.
4. In the new pot, place older rhizomes near the edges and young ones near the center of the pot. This way, it prevents the newer ones from coming in contact with the sides of the pot and being damaged.

Hybrid Cattleya Loddigesii

Perhaps you are feeling adventurous and want to try mixing up things a bit. The good news is you can’t go wrong with this plant. Cattleya species are famous for easily cross-pollinating with members of their own genus and those of others.

Care and culture requirements of hybrid plants are more or less the same as those of parent plants. The variety offered by their bloom and foliage remains unparalleled.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I identify a mature Cattleya Loddigesii plant?

To identify a mature Cattleya Loddigesii plant, look for pseudobulbs that are at least 8 inches tall and have several leaves on each stem.

2. What is the best way to stake Cattleya Loddigesii?

The best way to stake Cattleya Loddigesii is to use a sturdy bamboo stake and loosely tie the plant to it with soft plant ties, ensuring the stake is securely anchored in the pot. This will support the plant’s growth and prevent damage.

3. What is a keiki in Cattleya Loddigesii?

A keiki in Cattleya Loddigesii is a plantlet that grows from the base of the parent plant. It can be propagated to create a new plant.

Conclusion

We have covered a lot of ground on Cattleya Loddigesii today! We hope this information will help you raise healthy and beautiful Cattleyas right in the comfort of your own home.

Here is a quick summary of everything we have learned so far:

• Cattleya Loddigesii is a medium-sized orchid that produces long-lasting fragrant flowers
• This orchid needs regular abundant watering. Let the plant and substrate dry before each watering
• Provide relatively high temperatures to your orchid throughout the year. Make sure there is a temperature drop from day to night time
• Your Cattleyas need high humidity in the air: at least 60-70 percent.
• It pollinates easily with other orchids to make beautiful viable hybrids
• Make sure there is adequate ventilation and air movements around these orchids
• You can easily cross-pollinate Cattleyas with other orchid species to produce unique hybrids

Cattleya Loddigesii is one of the most sought-after orchids in the world. Florists and orchid lovers go crazy over its fragrant blooms and rich foliage. Now you, too, can get to experience their vibrant, fragrant blooms in your own home!