C. forbesii is an epiphytic, evergreen orchid from Central and South America. Tall, pseudo-bulb stalks grow erectly with two long, leathery, ovate, green leaves. 3 inch wide spring to summer flowers are fragrant, tawny pink to light green with yellow throats and a yellow stripe on the lip. Requires high humidity and room temperature or higher, with cooler temperatures at night, and good light from the outside, with protection from noon day sun.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Cattleya forbesii, or Forbes’ cattleya, is a species of orchid. Cattleya forbesii is native to Brazil. It was once a popular epiphyte in the forests of the coastal swamps and on the river banks in the areas east of Rio de Janeiro and southwest of São Paulo.
Preparing land for agriculture has seriously diminished its population. They are currently being found in small quantities in very scattered locations that have not yet been destroyed. Natural habitat lies in a narrow band almost parallel to the coast, and plants are rarely found further inland. They usually grow at heights below 50 m in deep shade, on the lower branches of spreading trees.
It is a cool to warm growing, medium sized epiphytic or lithophytic species, which reaching 10-20 cm in height, with slightly swollen, 10-20 cm long pseudobulbs subtended by several membranous sheaths and carrying 2 apical, oblong, coriaceous, spreading, rounded, notched apically, 10-14 cm long and 5-7 cm wide leaves.
Forbes’ Cattleya blooms from autumn until spring on an erect, terminal, 9 to 15 cm long, 1 to 6 flowered inflorescence subtended basally by a sheath from which long-lived, fragrant, waxy, color variable flowers arise. The flowers are 6-11 cm in diameter. The relatively narrow flakes of both whorls may be apple-green, greenish-yellow or light-brown. The lip is long and tubular and has a small, narrow center plot. Large side plots wrap and completely hide the rod.
On the outside, the lip is pinkish-white, but inside it has brown, reddish-brown or carmine veins running diagonally on a yellow-green background. Starting from the base, the lip is decorated with a bright gold-yellow stripe running almost to the end of the middle plot. The spine is light yellow-green, with pale red-brown longitudinal stripes on it.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Cattleya forbesii needs a light level of 18000-25000 lux because they grows in dark forests with low levels of light.
Temperature
It is a plant with moderate thermal requirements. In summer the average day temperature is 28-29 ° C, night 21-22 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 7 ° C. In winter, the average day temperature is 23-24 ° C, the average night 16 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 7-8 ° C.
Humidity
Forbes’ Cattleya needs the humidity of 75-80% throughout the year.
Watering
Rainfall is moderate to heavy throughout the year. Cattleya forbesii should be watered frequently, but should dry a little between waterings. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time, which can stop the diseases occurring in warm and humid growing conditions.
Substrate, growing media and repotting
Cattleya forbesii are usually grown in pots or baskets filled with a very thick, loose, quickly drying substrate that allows the roots to dry quickly after watering. It is recommended to use smaller pots sufficient for 1-2 years growth, because the substrate in larger pots stays wet for too long after watering. The result of insufficient quick-drying roots can be their rotting. You can use thick bark, or cork pieces mixed with large lumps of charcoal.
These plants also grow well attached to pieces of tree fern or cork, but require high humidity, and in the summer of daily watering. In the period of extremely hot and dry weather, attached plants may require even several waterings during the day. Repotting or dividing the plant should be done only when the growth of new roots begins.
Fertilizing
The plants should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is beneficial from spring to mid-summer, and a fertilizer richer in phosphorus should be used in late summer and autumn.
Rest period
In winter, the amount of water should be slightly reduced if Cattleya forbesii grows in a short, dark day, at moderate latitudes. However, do not let the plants stay dry for a long time, unless the growing conditions are cool. Fertilization should be limited until spring, when stronger watering resumes.
