Cattleya maxima is one of the few species of the large-flowered cattleyas that are easy to identify from their color.
Cattleya maxima orchid, also called as The Greatest Cattleya, Christmas Flower, Cattleya malouana or Epidendrum maximum, is a species of Cattleya genus. This species was first described by John Lindley in 1831, when he received a dried specimens of Lambert (an author of several horticultural and botanical books).
DESCRIPTION ABOUT CATTLEYA MAXIMA ORCHID
Cattleya maxima is one of the few species of the large-flowered cattleyas that are easy to identify from their color. Cattleya maxima has a characteristic yellow stripe down the center of the lip in all color forms including the albas. The bright yellow stripe is quite striking against the dark purple flowers of the short-pseudobulb type.
Cattleya maxima orchid has a medium sized, cool to warm growing, unifoliate, epiphyte and occasional lithophyte from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and northern coastal Peru that is found at elevations of 10 to 1500 meters in seasonally dry, coastal forests.
Cattleya maxima flowers in late autumn in the United States, from mid-November to early December. It blooms after C. labiata has finished flowering and before C. percivaliana begins. Cattleya maxima has a lovely fragrance, and all the color forms of the large-flowered Cattleya species. There are albas, semialbas, lovely pale pinkish-lavender forms — particularly in the tall-pseudobulb, lowland types — and the intense dark purple of the short- pseudobulb, upland types.
The flower stem of Cattleya maxima grows 12 inches (30 cm) long and has 3 to 15 (sometimes more) sweetly fragrant, long-lived flowers of heavy texture. Lowland plants have pale to medium lavender flowers. Upland plants have more dramatic flowers with spectacular markings on the lip. There are albas, semialbas, pale pink-lavender color forms (particularly in the tall-pseudobulb, lowland types) and the intense dark purple of the short-pseudobulb, upland types. All types have a distinctive yellow stripe down the center of the lip and throat.
GROW AND CARE CATTLEYA MAXIMA ORCHID
Although both forms of Cattleya maxima, with short and tall pseudobulbs, are easy to grow, their cultural requirements are somewhat different. They both begin to grow in the spring in the United States and both flower in late November to early December, but their night temperature requirements are not the same.
Light
This plant prefers medium to high light from 2,000 to 4,000 foot candles. Upland forms need more sun than lowland types, but all grow best when the foliate is light green in color. East windows will work in the extremes of the hemispheres until the dead of winter at which time they would require a south window if in the northern hemisphere or north if in the Southern hemisphere. This plant will also do well under lights if grown under at least 4 four foot tubes of fluorescent light and will grow especially well under high pressure sodium fixtures.
Watering
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 during periods of new growth or flowering. During winter months keep drier at the roots between watering. Watch the pseudobulbs, some slight shriveling is ok, too much however should be remedied with more frequent watering. Over watering can cause several problems such as root rot and infectious bacteria/fungus in the potting medium.
Humidity
This species likes high humidity from 50 to 80% during the summer growing season and will tolerate lower humidity during the winter months.
Temperature
As a mountain plant, the short-pseudobulb C. maxima requires the normal cattleya night temperature of 58°F, and can take temperatures down to the low 50°F without problems. The tall-pseudobulb C. maxima, however, grows near sea level, where night temperatures are in the high 60°F to low 70°F. To grow the tall-pseudobulb C. maxima well, the night temperature should not fall below 65°F, so you should put them in the warmest part of the intermediate greenhouse. Day temperatures for both types of C. maxima should be about 85°F.
Fertilizer
The Cattleya maxima orchid appreciates a 20-10-20 fertilizer. The recommended dose is ½ teaspoon of fertilizer per gallon of water (1 gallon equals 3.8 litres). During the winter time it is enough to fertilize every third watering. During the summer you can increase this to every second watering.
Potting and Repotting
It is important to use a well draining potting medium such as a medium grade bark mix for orchids. Repot this plant when new growths begin at the base using a medium grade bark mix. Plastic pots are acceptable during the seedling stage but once mature a switch to clay pots will be beneficial. Keep dry for the first week, after re potting as this will allow any damaged roots to heal and seal off preventing fugal or bacterial problems from developing.
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