Cattleya Orchid Environment: Light
The first step in growing your cattleya orchid is to take a close look at the available conditions. How much light is there? What is the temperature range? These factors are the ones you will most likely want to consider at first, because they are the most difficult and expensive to modify. Other factors, such as humidity and ventilation, can be altered easily.
Like most other flowering plants, cattleya orchids often grow and bloom best in as much light as they can tolerate without burning. Thus, if there are several spots in your home where you might want to grow cattleyas orchids, the brightest is nearly always the best. An unobstructed south-facing window is ideal because it receives bright light for most of the day and will usually capture enough light to carry the plants through the winter. However you need to be careful in summer; a south-facing window can burn even the most light-demanding species. A number of orchids will thrive in east or west facing windows, but keep in mind that the duration of light is an important as brightness -two hours of searing afternoon sunlight are no substitute for six hours of diffuse radiance. Cattleya orchids can use only so much light energy; any extra stresses them.
The direction a window faces gives only a general indication of how much light is available to the plants inside. Many windows are shaded by outdoor plants or roof overhangs, and outdoor light levels vary from region to region. Also, the color and texture of walls and other surfaces inside the window influence the intensity of light in the room. For these reasons, many growers shy away from imprecise descriptions of exposure and discuss light in terms of a standard measurement, the footcandle.
Cattleya Orchid Light Requirements
Measure the light intensity in your growing area, then you can choose the kind of orchids that will grow best for you. Cattleya Orchid need medium light range. This is from 2000 footcandles until 3500 footcandles. Some species within a genus, or some of their hybrids, may be exceptions. An intergeneric hybrid (a cross of plants in two or more genera) may tolerate a broader range of light intensities than either parent. Before purchasing an unfamiliar orchid, find out as much as you can about its light requirements.
Cattleya Orchid Leaf Colour
If you already have a cattleya orchid, the most practical way to see if she is receiving the right amount of light is to look at the plant itself. When cattleyas orchids are receiving the right amount of light, their leaves are light to medium green and the pseudobulbs are full and firm. The plants also bloom dependably, if other conditions are right.
With too little light, leaves are unable to manufacture enough food for the plant to grow and bloom well. Leaves are elongated, flimsy, and dark green. Pseudobulbs are soft or shriveled. And the flowers, if their appear at all, are undersized, faded, and floppy.
At the other extreme, cattleya orchids that gets too much light are often scorched. The leaves may have a yellow or reddish tinge. Although the plant may bloom, the flower buds and racemes may be deformed and the edges of the petals browned; a result of water stress.
Direct sun can burn orchids during the brightest hours from late winter to fall in most regions, and year-round in southern areas and at high elevations. Cattleyas orchids have foliage that if gradually conditioned will take large doses of sun in much the same way some human skin tans beautifully rather than burns.
Besides intensity of light, there is also the matter of duration, usually referred to as day length. Some orchids bloom as the days grow longer, as spring moves toward summer; others are the opposite, blooming as the days shorten, as fall dwindles into early winter. For these, flowering may be prevented by any exposure to light beyond a 12-hour day at the time they are preparing to bloom.
The most accurate way to make sure that your cattleya orchid is receiving enough light is to measure the light intensity with a footcandle light meter. Different meters are available. Some come equipped with a separate sensor to allow you to easily read the dial while measuring the light from different angles. Other, one-piece meters have the sensor built into the top of the unit.
