Cattleya loddigesii
Loddigesii's orchid
- Height × spread
- 0.45m × 0.3m
- Position
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 15C & above (RHS H1a)
- Flowers
- Winter
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A small but showy orchid with big flowers, having white, greedy looking mouths with jaggy edges. The blooms are otherwise coloured in shades of soft pink to purple, with long wavy exuberant petals. Up to eight flowers are supported on a stout stalk that arises from the bulb. They flower from autumn and into the winter months. The flower colour is said to be improved if they are placed under a good strong light when the blooms are still in bud. They should be grown in a container with orchid compost that contains plenty of bark and coarse grit to ensure very good drainage. They should be watered regularly whilst in growth but should be allowed to dry out between watering. They need a partly shaded site and a minimum winter temperature of 16C.
- Flower colour
- Pink, Purple
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 0.45m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Winter
- Flowers in
- Winter
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 15C & above (RHS H1a)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- A light position not direct sun
- Indoor temperature
- 15C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Winter · Indoors
Water regularly in growth & lightly in winter
This plant always needs some water, but the volume should be increased, and regularly applied while in growth. It should be lightly watered while resting in winter.
Summer
Summer-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with orchid feed
Use a standard orchid feed regularly at every third watering during summer, applying it as directed on the packet.
For specialist feeding, you can buy a group of orchid feeds. Apply a high nitrogen feed in spring as the plant is coming into growth, a balanced feed during growth, and a high potash feed in autumn.
Planting & general
Indoor temperature · Planting
15C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 15 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in indirect light indoors
Give the plant a position that is cool and light, and away from direct sunshine.
Compost · Planting
Orchid-epiphytic compost for repotting
Buy a standard orchid mix for orchids that are epiphytic in character i.e. they grow on other things, generally other plants.
If making one's own one recipe create a mix that is half fine bark chips, and a mix of fine gravel and perlite and charcoal for the other half. Opinions vary on 'recipes' and if your interest develops, you can research the views of specialist growers.