Photo credit: Michael Lemmon
Cattleya
Cattleyas are one of the true gems of the orchid family.
With their large, colorful blooms, they have been called the “Queen of the Orchids” and are one of the most popular.
Mostly used in corsages, they have earned the reputation of being the flower of love.
According to legend if you place a bloom under your pillow before you sleep, you will dream of your future love.
Cattleyas are epiphytes or “air plants” and store water through organs known as pseudobulbs.
They require bright light, humidity, and prefer a well draining medium, such as bark.
Photo credit: Michael Lemmon
Cattelyas have developed a reputation for being difficult to grow, but if you find their specific needs and can provide them, you'll have a beautiful plant that will bloom again and again.
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And you can find them in bloom now, at Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park.