Species Orchid, Lady Ackland's Cattleya

Cattleya aclandiae is now a rare species from the coastal rainforests of Brazil. It's being reproduced commercially by orchidarium...Read Mores, but the wild plants are still highly in danger due to illegal collectors - and this plant is more needed in its natural habitat than in some collector´s porch - so if you see one for sale, be sure to find out how they got that plant before buying it.

It has cilindric pseudobulbs that can reach up to 20cm and a pair of hard leaves, often brown spotted when young. Each pseudobulb produces 1 or 2 big flowers. They are fragrant, have pale yellow petals with brown, olive, or reddish spots all over, with a white and magenta labellum.

It needs an organic medium, preferably wood bits or fiber, being careful to not keep it too moisty, because of fungi infestations. It needs some air movement, high temperatures and light shade. Spray some water on it whenever you can.