Cattleya

Purple Cattleya hybrid KAT-lee-uh

The genus Cattleya contains over 60 species, many of which have been used to breed hundreds of hybrids. In order to flower well, cattleyas require a great deal of sunlight. They are grown in pots of medium or coarse compost which allows very good drainage and are repotted before the compost starts to break down.

Light
Sufficient light is important for healthy growth and flower production.
Provide bright light, some sun. In the home, an east, west or lightly shaded south window. In a greenhouse, about 30 to 50 percent full sun. Under lights, four 40 watt fluorescent tubes and two 40 watt incandescent bulbs directly over plants. Plants should be naturally a medium olive-green color. Dark green, limp foliage indicates too little light.

Temperature
Mature plants need a 15º to 20º F difference between night and day.
Provide Nights of 55º to 60º F; days of 70º to 85º F. Cattleyas can tolerate temperatures up to 95º to 100º F if shading, humidity and air circulation are increased. Seedling cattleyas need temperatures five to 10 degrees higher than mature plants.

Water
Depends mostly on the growing medium. Mature plants must dry out between waterings. Seedlings need more constant moisture
Cattleyas are among the most commonly grown orchids, and their culture is often used as the basis for comparison with other types of orchids. Like most other cultivated orchids, cattleyas are epiphytes, or air plants. They have well-developed water-storage organs (called pseudobulbs) and large, fleshy roots.

Humidity
Cattleyas need 50 to 60 percent. In the home, place on trays over moistened pebbles. In greenhouse, use a humidifier if conditions are too dry.

Fertilizer
"weakly, weekly." That is, fertilize every week at one quarter to one half of the recommended dilution. Must be provided on a regular basis. Exact fertilizer you use will depend on the mix in which your plant is growing. A good general rule is to use a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10, 12-12-12 or similar ratio) .

Potting
Should be done every two to three years in spring before mix loses consistency (breaks down). Pot firmly in media that have good aeration and ample drainage, allowing enough room for two years' growth.
Cattleya should be potted in a porous, free-draining medium. The most commonly used are fir bark, various types of rock and processed coconut fiber. Keep out of cold, dry air while in bloom.

For potting media used in the biggest orchid collection at Kew check here

More on Cattleya species
 
Cattleya species in details - (not completed but with nice pictures)

Their flowering season begins in the autumn, when Cattleya bowringiana comes into flower. This species has an arching spike of up to 10 flowers each 6 cm across, rosy mauve with darker markings on the lip and a white throat.
Cattleya bowringiana is a native of Belize and Guatemala where it is found growing on rocks and cliffs. Although the flowers superficially resemble C. skinneri they are smaller and often more numerous. Both the plants and the inflorescence can be robust with pseudobulbs reaching a meter in height. Their swollen bases and alternate clasping sheaths are identifying features of the species. C. bowringiana has been long used in hybridizing producing such popular hybrids as C. Porcia and Ctna. Rosy Jewel. Grow this fall-flowering species under the same conditions as you grow other Cattleyas providing slightly less light and slightly more water. 
Cattleya skinneri is very similar but flowers in the summer.
Cattleya mossiae, from Venezuela, flowers in spring and has much larger pale pink flowers with a splash of orange and deep pink veining on the lip
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