Cattleya pumila is native to Brazil. These plants come from the states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais. Their range extends west from central Espirito Santo to a deep interior in Minas Gerais, and from Belo Horizonte in the south to Pedra Azul in the north...
Cattleya pumila also called as The Dwarf Cattleya, Bletia pumila, Cattleya marginata, Cattleya pinelii, Cattleya pinelii var marginata, Laelia pumila, Hadrolaelia pumila, Laelia praestans var noblis, Sophronitis pumila, is a species of the genus Cattleya. This species was described by William Jackson Hooker in 1838.
IDENTIFY CATTLEYA PUMILA
Cattleya pumila is native to Brazil. These plants come from the states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais. Their range extends west from central Espirito Santo to a deep interior in Minas Gerais, and from Belo Horizonte in the south to Pedra Azul in the north. They usually grow on trees in relatively rare, damp forests, along rivers and swamps, at an altitude of 600-1300 m above sea level. Most often they grow in protected positions, low on tree trunks.
It is a warm to cool growing, miniature, epiphytic species, which reaching a height of 20 cm, with small, ovoid, 3-8 cm long pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, narrowly oblong-ligulate, leathery, 10.0-12.5 cm long and 3 cm wide leaf.
The Dwarf Cattleya blooms in the fall with one or 2, long-lasting, showy, fragrant flowers on a 9 cm long inflorescence subtended by a membranous sheath. The flowers are about 8-10 cm in diameter, but there are also those with a diameter of 13 cm. The outer and inner whorls usually have a pinkish-lavender color, but its intensity is variable. Many color variations have been described - the colors change from white to almost blue to pink. The lip may be white or yellow at the base, and the undulating, concave apical parts of the petal are dark purple.
CATTLEYA PUMILA CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Cattleya pumila needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. Moderate or bright light should be somewhat dispersed. Direct southern sun may cause burns. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. When the average temperature in summer is 26-27 ° C , average night to 17 ° C , which gives the amplitude of the daily 8-11 ° C . The average temperature is in the winter day 22-23 ° C , and at night of 11-12 ° C , giving a daily difference of the order of 11 ° C .
Humidity:
The Dwarf Cattleya needs the average humidity of 80-85% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
You can use small pots or baskets, giving space for a 1-2-year-old growth, should be filled with a very thick, loose, quickly drying ground. The substrate must provide adequate air circulation so that the roots dry quickly after watering. The substrate in larger containers stays moist for too long after watering. If the roots do not dry quickly after watering, it can cause rot.
These plants grow better when attached to large pieces of woody ferns, but such plants require high humidity and may need to be watered several times during the day, during extremely dry and hot weather. Repotting or dividing plants should be done when the growth of new roots begins.
Watering:
Rainfall is moderate and even abundant, from the beginning of spring to autumn, and only during 3-5 winter months is a bit drier. Cattleya pumila should be watered strongly during the full growth, but the roots must always dry quickly after watering. When new growths reach maturity in the autumn, the amount of water should be gradually reduced.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth of the plants should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is beneficial from spring to mid-summer, and a phosphorus-rich fertilizer can be used in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
In winter, Cattleya pumila need less water. They should dry between waterings, but they should not be dry for a longer period. Adequate humidity in most areas is ensured by the occasional wetting between uncommon watering. Fertilization should be reduced or completely eliminated until more intense watering starts in the spring.
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