Cattleya schilleriana

Base Price: $30.00

Cross: sib cross

Intro:
Cattleya schilleriana is native to Brazil. It grows at lower elevations in diffused bright light. The large flowers are colored I deep bronze with reddish spots on the petals and sepals. The lip is colored in white with deep violet veins throughout. The flowers have the fragrance of bubble gum.
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Light:
Medium light is best from 1500-2000 foot-candles. When this plant receives too much light, the leaves will develop a deep reddish pigmentation. If this occurs, reduce the light levels until the plant returns to an olive color with just a hint of red in the leaves.
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 warmish temperatures as for Phalaenopsis. Winter night temps of 62-64 degrees Fahrenheit with winter day temps of 70-80 and summer day temps of 75-90 degrees are best.

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. During the growing and flowering season from spring through summer, water copiously as the plant approaches dryness. During the late fall to winter months, when temperatures are cooler, allow the mix to dry out well between watering.
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:
The flowers emerge in late spring to early summer. They are large, up to 4” across, and colored in mahogany with dark reddish mahogany spotting. The lip is large, spade- shaped, and colored in white with deep violet striping. There is also a rare coerulea form with blue stripes in the lip.

Repotting:
Cattleya schilleriana requires a fast draining mix. It does not ever like stale or broken down potting media. The best time to repot is when the new growths are emerging after flowering. Clay pots are best. This plant can also be slab-mounted on cork, tree fern, or hydrologs. The preferred media is tree fern fiber.
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.