Cattleya My Special Angel (Cattleya iricolor x Cattleya luteola xanthina )

Cattleya My Special Angel – Technical sheet

Origin and classification

• Hybrid name : Cattleya My Special Angel

• Parents :

  • Cattleya luteola x Cattleya iricolor) (or a close hybrid, depending on the lineages).

  • Objective : To create an orchid with elegant, fragrant, pastel-colored flowers, often pink, lavender, or white with a contrasting labellum.

• Classification : Family Orchidaceae, subfamily Epidendroideae, tribe Laeliinae.

• Popularity : Highly valued for its abundant flowering, fragrance and relative ease of cultivation.

Appearance

• Size : Medium (30–45 cm tall).

• Pseudobulbs : Fusiform, green or slightly purple (12–18 cm long).

• Leaves : Lanceolate, leathery, light to medium green (15–20 cm long).

• Roots : Thick, silvery, adapted to absorb ambient moisture.

Flowers

• Shape : Star-shaped flowers, with broad petals and a fringed, slightly wavy lip.

• Color :

  • Soft palette: pale pink, lavender, creamy white , often with a darker label (purple, magenta or yellow).

  • Some varieties may have striated patterns or lighter edges.

• Scent : Strong and sweet, especially in the morning.

• Flower size : 10–13 cm in diameter.

• Flowering period : Spring and autumn, sometimes several times a year under optimal conditions.

• Flowering duration : 3–4 weeks per flower.

Culture

• Temperature :

  • Day : 18–26°C.

  • Night : 12–16°C (a day/night difference of 6–8°C promotes flowering).

  • Avoid : Temperatures below 10°C or above 30°C.

• Humidity : 50–70% (adaptable, but prefers moderate humidity).

  • Tip : Use a pebble tray or a humidifier in a dry indoor environment.

• Light :

  • Intensity : 3,000–5,000 lux (bright but indirect light).

  • Ideal light source : East or west window, or artificial lighting (horticultural LEDs).

  • Avoid : Direct sunlight during the hottest hours.

• Watering :

  • Growth (spring-summer) : Water every 3–4 days, allowing the substrate to dry slightly between waterings.

  • Rest (autumn-winter) : Reduce to 1–2 times per week.

  • Method : Soaking (10 min) or watering from above with fresh water.

• Substrate :

  • Mixture : Very draining and aerated – medium pine bark (50%), sphagnum moss (20%), charcoal (15%), perlite (15%).

  • Repotting : Every 2–3 years, in a slightly tight pot.

• Fertilization :

  • Orchid fertilizer, diluted halfway, every 2 weeks during the growing period.

  • Rest : Reduce fertilization in winter.