"Just Because it Looks Like a Cattleya....."
"I bought a Cattleya amethystoglossa from you folks, and within three months it turned black and died!", the upset customer proclaimed over the telephone. "I've grown Cattleyas all my life, and the others are doing fine - you sent me a defective plant!"
Just because the amethystoglossa is preceeded by the word "Cattleya" doesn't necessarily mean that it can be grown like any other Cattleya hybrid or clone. Many of the species Cattleyas can prove to be more difficult to grow. The aclandiae and the walkeriana are a couple other more difficult-to-grow species.
These particular varieties have thicker leaves, are slower growing, and like to be drier than hybrid Catts. Hence, they seem to grow much better for us mounted on plaques, in order that the roots are more exposed to the air and, as a result, dry out faster between watering.
The Phalaenopsis family also has many species that are a bit more challenging to grow. The braceana, parishii and lindenii species, for instance, are all miniature Phals that go dormant during the winter months. They lose some of their bottom, older leaves and the rest of the foliage droops and looks wilted all winter. Every spring, we re-mount them on a fresh bed of sphagnum moss (all three of them like to grow on a placque) and they grow out quickly with new leaves and roots and bloom easily.
Few species Phals, however, can be grown the same as the larger, hybrid Phalaenopsis. The Phal bellina (violacea 'Borneo') is another example. They grow very well in pots. However, the leaf tissue is much softer than the hybrid Phals. Therefore, they should be grown in more shade and repotted more frequently.
There are examples of such growing exceptions in almost all orchid genera - Oncidiums, Epidendrums, Angraecums, et al. They all have species within their group that are more challenging to grow. When purchasing these items, make sure to do a bit of research to see what specific care these gems may require. Often these varieties are a bit more rare and hard to find, perhaps because they require a specific environment to thrive.
Learning about the specific needs of each plant you acquire will help you succeed in growing a wide variety of orchids. Adding these rarities to your collection is a great way to make your hobby both more challenging and rewarding. And, after all, no one wants to grow a collection full of white Phals and purple Catts forever!
Grow outside the box, learn more about your hobby, and enjoy the beauty and understanding that comes with it.
Liese
We are also glad to help here at Oak Hill Gardens. Just give us a call!
