Cattleya labiata is native to Northeast Brazil. They are found in mountain forests in the states of Ceara, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Piaui at an altitude of 500-1000 m. They are found inland, starting from 50-150 km from the coast, and the range stretches as much as 300-400 in inland...
Cattleya labiata also called as Crimson Cattleya, Ruby-lipped Cattleya, Cattleya bullieri, Cattleya labiata autumnalis, Cattleya labiata f. alba, Cattleya labiata f. albo-oculata, Cattleya labiata f. candida, Cattleya labiata f. coerulea, Cattleya labiata f. purpureostriata, Cattleya labiata var. alba, Cattleya labiata var. albo-oculata, Cattleya labiata var. amesiana, Cattleya labiata var. amoena, Cattleya labiata var. atropurpurea, Cattleya labiata var autumnalis, Cattleya labiata var. beyrodtiana, Cattleya labiata var. brennandiana, Cattleya labiata var. caerulea, Cattleya labiata var. coerulea, Cattleya labiata var. concolor, Cattleya labiata var. crocata, Cattleya labiata var genuine, Cattleya labiata var. petersii, Cattleya labiata var. petersii-marmorata, Cattleya labiata var. purpureolineata, Cattleya labiata var. purpureostriata, Cattleya labiata var. rochellensis, Cattleya labiata var. semialba, Cattleya labiata var warocqueana, Cattleya labiata vera, Cattleya labiatum, Cattleya leeana, Cattleya lemoniana, Cattleya massangeana, Cattleya morganae, Cattleya nalderiana, Cattleya oweniana, Cattleya pallida, Cattleya peetersii, Cattleya perrinii, Cattleya regalis, Cattleya rochellensii, Cattleya rollissonii, Cattleya wallisii, Cattleya warocqueana, Epidendrum labiatum, Epidendrum labiatum var lemonianum, Epidendrum labiatum var pallidum, Epidendrum labiatum var. pictum, is a species of the genus Cattleya. This species was described by John Lindley in 1824.
IDENTIFY CATTLEYA LABIATA
Cattleya labiata is native to Northeast Brazil. They are found in mountain forests in the states of Ceara, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Piaui at an altitude of 500-1000 m. They are found inland, starting from 50-150 km from the coast, and the range stretches as much as 300-400 in inland. In this region, these plants are found in three different types of natural habitats, including the zone of tropical rainforests near the coast with distinct seasons, the zone of tropical deciduous forests, which is further inland and the bush zone, which is far inland. They usually grow in bright conditions, near the tops of old trees, where they are found on vertical trunks or diagonally growing branches. However, they are sometimes found growing on rocks in both shade and in the sun. These plants are usually, but not always, protected against full sun. When they grow in full sun, the leaves and pseudobulbs develop a protective reddish-brown color, while the red-pink flowers are more intensely colored.
Crimson Cattleya is a warm growing, variable sized epiphyte (15-60 cm in height) with club-shaped, slightly compressed, 7-27 cm long pseudobulbs subtended by several greenish, thin textured sheaths and carrying a single, apical, oblong, obtuse, coriaceous, 10-30 cm long leaf.
Ruby-lipped Cattleya blooms mostly in the fall and early winter on a short, 2 to 5 flowered inflorescence subtended by a double, leathery sheath. The flowers can be 12-18 cm in diameter. The flakes of both whorls are usually light to brilliantly dark lilac-pink. They are almost the same length, but the inner whorl petals are wider with a very wavy and wrinkled edge. The floppy lip is about 7 cm long and 4 cm in diameter when unfolded, but the side plots are folded up and form a tube around the spine. The mousse is purple-purple, with a different intensity of color, has a lilac-pink edges and a yellow throat, which is decorated with lilac veins.
The plants from various natural habitats usually present interesting varieties. Those from tropical, seasonal zones of rain forests near the coast are large, and their flowers are often considered the most beautiful with a pure pink, very wrinkled lip. The plants from the zone of tropical deciduous forests are usually larger and form larger and darker flowers than those from other zones. The plants from the bush zone can be very small. Sometimes referred to as a miniature Cattleya labiata, they have small, dark scarlet-purple flowers. More white forms are found in the region around Garanhuns in Pernambuco, than in other areas.
CATTLEYA LABIATA 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 labiata needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. These plants can adapt to brighter conditions, especially when the light level increases gradually. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time, especially at high levels of sunlight.
Temperature:
Crimson Cattleya is a thermophilic plant. In summer, the average daytime temperature is 29-30 ° C, the night 17-18 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 12-13 ° C. The average winter temperature is 22-23 ° C during the day and 14-16 ° C at night, giving a daily amplitude of 7-8 ° C.
Humidity:
Ruby-lipped Cattleya needs the humidity of 85-90% for most of the year, in the dry season it drops to about 75-80%.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Cattleya labiata are usually grown in shallow pots or baskets filled with a very thick, loose, quickly drying base, allowing the roots to dry quickly after watering. It is recommended to use smaller pots sufficient for 1-2 years growth, because the substrate in larger pots stays wet for too long after watering. The result of not sufficiently fast drying roots can be their rotting. You can use medium-thick fir bark or chopped tree fern fibers, but also can use a substrate containing a fir bark with the addition of approx. 10% perlite and charcoal.
These plants grow well also mounted on pieces of tree ferns or cork, but in the summer it requires high humidity and daily watering. In the period of extremely hot and dry weather, attached plants may require even several waterings during the day. Repotting or dividing the plant should be done only when the growth of new roots begins.
Watering:
Rainfall is moderate to heavy throughout the year, with a 4-5 month slightly drier period at the end of spring and early summer. Cattleya labiata should dry between subsequent waterings in the period from spring to summer, but should not remain dry for a long period. Watering should be increased at the end of summer to help the plant initiate flowering. When the flowering process ends, the amount of water should be reduced.
Fertilizer:
These 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 fertilizer richer in phosphorus should be used in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
After flowering, watering should be limited to the extent that the substrate is a bit dry, but that the Cattleya labiata do not start to wrinkle. Drying should be used especially for the plants grown at low light levels during short days typical of average latitudes.
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