Blc. village chief leer
 

I am a beginner. I recently purchased titled orchid and wish to know how to care for same. I live in Phoenix, Az. and have a greenhouse to keep my orchids which are mostly phals, except for this one. I keep greenhouse at no colder than 60 degrees. I was told that for phals that 60 would be okay. What about this orchid? Would appreciate any advice including light, and fertilizer, etc.

Thank you

:welcomeflowers:

This type - Cattleya alliance; this particular one is an intergeneric hybrid - should be good with the same temps as your Phals, may need more light; depends how much light your Phals are getting; many of the Catt intergenerics don't require as much light as some of the species Catts. Potting media should be allowed to dry out, or nearly so, in-between waterings.

Welcome to Orchid Board! I agree with Sonya's advice. Your cattleya needs brighter light than phals typically get. Use a chunky medium that will dry quickly. Let the plant get completely dry between waterings and them water really well. I read a book that described a tree with phalaenopsis growing near the bottom of the tree where there wasn't much light and the environment was moist most of the time while cattleyas grow on a high limb of the tree where the light is brighter and the breeze dries the orchid quickly after a rain storm.

Blc. village chief leer
 

Thanks to both Sonya and Tucker85 for the info. I believe that I can place the orchid in the greenhouse so that it gets more light. It is in a bark medium that should allow it to dry out fairly easy.Just curious, what part of the name I posted indicates it's a cattleya?

One more thing when I bought this orchid at a orchid show there was a gentleman who said he bought the same orchid as I did, labeled the same, but they didn't look the same. He was very knowledgeable and had some orchids on display. He admitted that he didn't know which one was the real cattleya. Is there a way to that I can take a pic of mine and send it to you guys using this forum? I know how to send an image using Ebay, but this doesn't seem to be set up the same way.

Thanks again for you help,

Darrell

Blc. is an abbreviation for *Brassolaeliocattleya*, which means this hybrid contains species from the genera Brassavola, Laelia, and Cattleya. All are in the Cattleya alliance, as well, and very often like similar care.

Now - many orchids have undergone reclassifications, sometimes into newly created/identified genera - so this one is now Rhyncholaeliocattleya - the *Brassavola* parent has been recategorized into Rhyncholaelia genus. And then, I still get confused - I don't know if the Laelia parent was re-categorized into Cattleya, or not - sorry - so can't say if the new correct abbreviation is *Rlc.* or *Rc.*

But, anyway - that's how to tell what kind of orchid it is :)

Blc. village chief leer
 

Sonya, Thanks for your feedback. I now realize that I have a lot to learn, which I figured out awhile ago but you certainly have confirmed. I am going to an orchid society meeting on Nov., 20 2013 to hopefully help me with a better understanding of orchids. I look forward to the help of the Orchid Board and it's members in the future. What a great group of people.

Thanks again,

Darrell

I'm still learning much myself! This board alone has helped me so much!

I have two BLCs and they look like they are thriving. They have not given me any spikes yet, but they are growing new bulbs. I have them in the lava rock with drainage holes at the bottom sides, and with a bit of finer bark chips around their bases at the "root line" They get nice morning light when the light is not too direct, and I put them outside under a tree some times (it is November 10th here and I am wearing a tank top). They like nice cool breeze and brighter light because they come from tree tops and not down near the ground like the Phals. They especially like to be outside when it is windy and rainy but not when it is too cold.