Cross: (C. Moscombe x Blc. Toshie Aoki)
Intro:
Blc. Dora Louise Capen 'Lea' AM/AOS is a hybrid between Cattleya Moscombe and Blc. Toshi Aoki. This excellent clone produces large well-shaped yellow flowers with red splotches on the petals and sepals and a deep scarlet-purple lip with yellow eyes on the inside. The plant is compact in growth habit and usually flowers twice; once in early fall and then again in late fall as it can produce growths one after another. The plant is easy to grow, likes warmer conditions, and the flowers are long-lasting. The plants offered are not as large or old as in the photo above but are none the less nice and will provide large sized flowers.
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Light:
This plant prefers medium light from 2000 - 3500 foot-candles. In northern climates, more light can be given during the winter months when the sun is low and the days are short.
P.L. Lights systems are a great way to provide artificial light to your orchids. See our P.L. Lights page for more information on this great product we offer.
Temperature:
This plant prefers intermediate to warm temperatures with winter nighttime lows being from 60º - 64º and daytime highs of 70º - 85º. Summer temps can be a few degrees warmer.
Humidity:
50% or higher is ideal. The use of humidity trays or room humidifiers is beneficial.
We offer two products that can help increase humidity levels. The humidity tray offered in black or white, and the Mist Maker. Please click on the underlined text for more information on these products.
Water:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Municipal water with a pH of 7.5 or lower can also be used. Water as the mix approaches dryness but do not allow the mix to become completely dry between watering. In winter, when out of bloom water as the mix becomes just dry.
Overwatering can cause several problems such as root rot and infectious bacteria/fungus in the potting medium. One product we offer that can help these problems if caught at an early stage is Phyton 27 bactericide and fungicide.
Fertilizer:
We highly recommend
Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water.
Or, use
GrowMore 20-10-20 Ureafree for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using GrowMore with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.
Another fertilizer offered is GrowMore 6-30-30 (Cymbidium and bloom boosting formula).
Flowering:
This plant typically blooms in the late summer to late fall months. Generally new growths emerge immediately amongst those growths near maturity so it is possible for the plant to bloom twice within 2-3 months. Flowers are large, approximately 6-7", and are extremely fragrant, smelling of lemon in the morning and vanilla in the afternoon. The flowers last up to 8 weeks.
Repotting:
Repot this plant during the spring months using a medium grade bark mix and clay pots. This will allow time for the root system to recover and new growths to mature properly for flowering in the fall. We recommend that after repotting you allow the plant to be dry for the first two weeks to allow any damaged roots to heal and seal off. Place the oldest growth of the plant (usually smaller seedling leaves) to the back of the pot, allowing new growth to emerge in the front. Repot every two years.
We offer several different types of potting medium. Here are direct links to what we believe to be some of the best potting mediums available for orchids: Orchids Limited bark mix, New Zealand sphagnum moss, coco husk, coco peat, sponge rock,charcoal, tree fern fiber, osmunda fiber and cork slabs for epiphytic plants.
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