Cattleya Orchid Live Plant – Fragrant White Flowers, Red Lip – 2.5 inch Pot

Overview

Introduce a touch of tropical beauty into your home with this exquisite Cattleya orchid live plant. Known for its spectacular blooms and delightful fragrance, this particular variety produces large, pristine white flowers adorned with a vibrant red lip and distinct red flares. It’s a captivating addition to any orchid collection, offering a blend of visual appeal and aromatic pleasure. This compact orchid is delivered as a recently potted mericlone in a 2.5 inch pot, and while it will take approximately two to three years to reach blooming size, the anticipation of its stunning display is part of the rewarding journey. Its manageable size makes it an ideal choice for various indoor settings, including windowsills, shelves, or under grow lights, bringing a natural elegance to your living space.

The fragrant Cattleya orchid is a testament to nature’s artistry, combining striking aesthetics with an enchanting scent. This variety is celebrated for its compact growth habit, making it suitable for those with limited space but a desire for exotic flora. Whether you are an experienced orchid enthusiast or new to the world of orchids, this plant offers a rewarding growing experience with its relatively easy care requirements and impressive resilience. Prepare to be charmed by its long-lasting blooms and sweet fragrance for many weeks once it matures.

Key Benefits

This Cattleya orchid live plant offers numerous advantages, transforming your home into a more vibrant and serene environment. Its unique characteristics make it a standout choice for plant lovers seeking both beauty and a sensory experience.

• Fragrant Blooms: Enjoy the sweet, captivating scent of the large white flowers, which will fill your home with a delightful natural perfume. The fragrance alone makes this a truly special addition to any room.
• Striking Appearance: The pristine white petals are beautifully contrasted by a vibrant red lip and red flares, creating a visually stunning floral display that captures attention and admiration. Each bloom is a work of art.
• Compact Size: Perfect for smaller spaces, this compact Cattleya orchid typically reaches a mature height and width of 8-12 inches, making it ideal for windowsills, desks, or shelves without overwhelming the area.
• Relatively Easy Care: Suitable for both beginners and experienced growers, this orchid is known for its resilience and straightforward care routine, providing a rewarding experience with minimal fuss.
• Long-Lasting Blooms: With proper care and optimal conditions, the beautiful flowers of this orchid can last for several weeks, allowing you to enjoy their splendor and fragrance for an extended period.
• Investment in Beauty: Watching this indoor orchid plant mature and eventually bloom provides immense satisfaction and years of enjoyment, making it a valuable addition to your botanical collection.
• Enhances Home Decor: The natural elegance and exotic beauty of this white flower orchid effortlessly elevate the aesthetic of any room, adding a sophisticated and serene touch to your interior design.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Cattleya orchid live plant is a rewarding experience, and with the right approach, you can ensure its healthy growth and eventual stunning blooms. These orchids thrive in conditions that mimic their natural tropical habitats. Providing bright, indirect light is crucial; an east-facing window is often ideal, or a south/west-facing window with sheer curtains to diffuse intense sunlight. Direct, harsh sun can scorch the leaves, while too little light will hinder blooming. Good air circulation is also important, so avoid placing it in stagnant corners.

Watering should be done thoroughly when the potting mix is almost dry. This typically means once every 7-10 days, but it can vary based on humidity, temperature, and pot size. Allow excess water to drain completely to prevent root rot, which is a common issue for orchids. This fragrant Cattleya orchid prefers a well-draining orchid mix, usually composed of bark, perlite, and charcoal, which provides excellent aeration for its roots. During the active growing season (spring and summer), fertilize regularly with a balanced orchid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce or stop fertilizing during the dormant season (fall and winter) to allow the plant to rest. Maintaining a humidity level of 50-70% is beneficial, which can be achieved through misting, a humidity tray, or a room humidifier, especially in dry indoor environments. Understanding the needs of your compact Cattleya orchid is key to its success.

Temperature is another vital factor. These orchids prefer daytime temperatures between 65-80°F (18-27°C) and a nighttime drop of about 10-15°F (5-8°C) to encourage blooming. Avoid sudden temperature fluctuations and cold drafts. Repotting is generally needed every 1-2 years, or when the potting mix breaks down and no longer drains well, or when the plant outgrows its current container. Always use fresh orchid-specific potting media. Keep an eye out for common orchid pests like scale, mealybugs, or spider mites, and treat them promptly with appropriate organic solutions. With consistent care, your white flower orchid will flourish and reward you with its magnificent blossoms.

Size & Details

This Cattleya orchid live plant is shipped as a robust mericlone, already potted in a 2.5 inch nursery pot. While it arrives as a young, actively growing plant, it is not yet at blooming size. With proper care and cultivation, this orchid is expected to reach blooming maturity within two to three years. Once mature, the plant will develop a compact growth habit, typically reaching a height and width of approximately 8-12 inches. This makes it an ideal choice for smaller living spaces, ensuring it can comfortably fit on windowsills, shelves, or tabletops without requiring extensive room.

The compact nature of this indoor orchid plant ensures that it remains manageable and easy to integrate into various home decor styles. Each plant is carefully selected to ensure health and vitality upon arrival, ready to begin its journey towards producing its spectacular fragrant white flowers with a vibrant red lip. The 2.5 inch pot provides a stable environment for its initial growth, and instructions for eventual repotting will guide you as the plant matures. This is a journey of patience and reward, leading to years of enjoyment from your beautiful orchid.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big will the plant be when it blooms? A: This Cattleya orchid live plant will be a compact size, typically reaching around 8-12 inches in height and width when mature. Its manageable dimensions make it perfect for smaller spaces or windowsills.
• Q: How long will the flowers last? A: With proper care and ideal humidity, the beautiful flowers of this fragrant Cattleya orchid can last for several weeks, providing extended enjoyment of its stunning blooms and delightful scent.
• Q: What are the ideal growing conditions for this orchid? A: This orchid thrives in bright, indirect light and requires a well-draining orchid mix. Water when the potting mix is almost dry, ensuring good air circulation around the roots.
• Q: Is this orchid suitable for beginners? A: Yes, this compact Cattleya orchid is relatively easy to care for, making it a great choice for both experienced orchid enthusiasts and those new to growing orchids. Its resilience makes it forgiving.
• Q: What does ‘two to three years to blooming size’ mean? A: It means this recently potted mericlone is not yet mature enough to bloom. It will take approximately two to three years of proper care before it reaches blooming size and begins to produce its beautiful, fragrant white flowers.
• Q: How often should I fertilize my orchid? A: Fertilize regularly with a balanced orchid fertilizer diluted to half strength during the growing season (spring and summer). Reduce or stop fertilizing during the dormant season (fall and winter) to allow the plant to rest.
• Q: Can this indoor orchid plant be placed outdoors? A: While it prefers indoor conditions, it can be placed outdoors in a shaded, protected area during warm summer months, provided temperatures remain consistently above 60°F (15°C) and below 90°F (32°C).
• Q: What type of pot is best for this orchid? A: Orchids prefer pots that provide good drainage and aeration, such as clay pots with drainage holes or specialized orchid pots with side vents. The 2.5 inch pot it arrives in is suitable for its current size.
• Q: Is the fragrance strong? A: Yes, this white flower orchid is known for its sweet, captivating scent, which is a significant feature and one of its main appeals. The fragrance will be noticeable, especially when in full bloom.
• Q: How often should I repot this orchid? A: Repotting is generally recommended every 1-2 years, or when the potting medium starts to decompose, or the plant outgrows its pot. This helps maintain healthy root growth.