The orchid portrait of Cattleya (Laelia) jongheana fma. alba is one of my favorites of this year … but I might almost always say that for an alba form — a particular love in our collection. We also grow the type color form of this species, and they are a stunning combination when in bloom together.
These photographs are of a first bloom seedling of Cattleya (Laelia) jongheana fma. alba. This year, the alba form flowering overlapped with the color form of the species, so it was quite a beautiful display in late winter. Both of our plants of Cattleya (Laelia) jongheana grow alongside our collection of Brazilian rupiculous Laelia (Cattleya) and Hadrolaelia in a southeastern window. They receive direct morning sun, and supplemental afternoon light year-round from overhead LED fixtures. These conditions appear to suit them quite fine, as both plants are notably strong growers.
Like all of our Cattleya (Laelia) from Brazil, we grow Cattleya (Laelia) jongheana in clay pots filled exclusively with hydroton (expanded clay pellets). This setup allows for a cycle of heavy seasonal watering in summer, and good drying during our cool, damp winters. We use pure water (reverse osmosis) and low fertilizer concentrations (25-50ppm N per week), so we do not experience problems with mineral accumulation on the clay.
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My vision to create orchid portraits emerged from my appreciation for the “whole orchid.” So many photographs of orchids focus only on the flower. But orchids are not flowers: they are entire plants and living beings. Connect more deeply with the many dimensions of orchids …
