My first species Cattleya - C. Maxima
 

Just picked up this little beauty today:
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As all my other Catts are hybrids, I was wondering if there's anything specific I should know about its care, or will general Cattleya culture do the trick just fine?

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Can't help you with the culture, just a guess, I would treat it the same. Hopefully some one that grows it will chime in.

It sure does have a lovely lip, it's a beauty.

Nice! This one does well with general Cattleya conditions. They grow pretty quickly, too.

Thanks!

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Search "Chadwick cattleya maxima" and you will be taken to Chadwick Orchids, premier orchid collectors/growers for many decades. Their book, "The Classic Cattleyas" is wonderful. The web site piece is pretty much what is in the book and gives great detail on the history of the species as well as detailed growing information. You will see that the growing conditions depend on whether you have a mountain-type (upland) short pseudo bulb maxima or a sea-level, tall pseudo bulb maxima. The short pseudo-bulb type grow much cooler.


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Actually, the shorter, highland variety is from cooler climates but grows very well in hot conditions. My highland maxima takes the Texas summer heat (105F) with no problem and is starting to spike.

Thanks for the link and the info, terryros - really interesting and helpful. Mine's a lowland long-pseudobulb type. Good to know, as I'll probably have to move it inside at night during winter.
If I can get mine producing "between 12 and 21 blooms on a single spike", then I'll be a very happy camper!

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C maxima being one of my favorite species...I grow several varieties, including both highland and lowland plants. Both grow very well in my intermediate temps which can range from winter lows to 58/60 and summer highs being whatever mother nature throws at them. My summers aren't as hot as Texas summer but it's not unusual for my summer days regularly be in the 90's w/nights not going below 70, and both do equally well. If they had eyes...neither would be blinking at my temps.

The one difference I have noticed is that (for me anyway) the highland varieties bloom better w/more light than the lowlands. A good deal more actually. Especially the alba forms!