Cattleya luteola

Cattleya luteola

Native to: Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia. Cattleya luteola is native to lowland tropical rain forests in the Amazon basin at elevations from 100 to 1200 meters (sometimes up to 2000 meters). It grows on trees in shady forests along side streams where the humidity is high.

Plant Size: Cattleya luteola is the smallest of all Cattleyas. Unifoliate. The pseudobulbs grow only 2 inches (5 cm) high. Leaves add another 4 inches (10 cm) to the height of the plant. Some report that the this species is capable of producing growths and flowers year round.

Flower Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Flower Description: Cattleya luteola usually produces 2 to 5 flowers on a 1 1/2 inch to 4 inch stem. Some plants produce fragrant flowers. The color ranges from concolor yellow to lemon or sulphur yellow. The lip has a darker yellow center, white picotee edge, with red in the throat and lightly brushed over the white side lobes.

Bloom Season: Summer, Fall (can produce flowers any time of year according to some sources)

Growing Temperature: Intermediate to Warm. Does best with warm nights and adapts to indoor temperatures well (70 F night, warmer during the day).

Additional Information: Cattleya luteola is an uncommon species in orchid collections but has been used recently to create mini-catt hybrids. There seems to be some confusion about the cultural requirements of this species. While some authors claim that a prolonged, dry winter rest is needed, growers say that the species performs better if there is no winter break. Plants can be grown in well-drained orchid media (i.e. coarse fir bark) or mounted on slabs of cork or tree fern. Provide ample water and fertilizer when new growth is developing.

Synonyms: Cattleya epidendroides; Cattleya epidendroides; Cattleya flavida; Cattleya holfordi; Cattleya luteola var. roezlii; Cattleya meyeri; Cattleya modesta; Cattleya sulphurea; Cattleya urselii; Epidendrum cattleyae; Epidendrum luteolum

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