C. percivaliana lithophytic?

[gdupont]

Hey, everyone. I purchased a Cattleya percivaliana today and read it is both lithophytic and epiphytic. Can i really grow it on a rock? That woukd be VERY cool. If so, what kind of rock..? Any culture tips are much appreciated, as well.

Thank you.

[Intruder]

I am cultivate mine on a substrate made of 25% Vol. CHC/65% Vol. bark 8/15 /10% Vol. coarse perlite. It needs a high light and a temperature between 15°C (night in winter) and 30°C max. I stop the watering during the bud formation in the shield.

[james mickelso]

You can grow most cattleyas on rock or in rock. Lithophytic orchids grow on a specific type rock like limestone for rupiculous laelias. Some paphs from Vietnam are also lithophytic and grow on limestone. I grow many of my orchids in lava rock. Not the same as lithophytic in the usual sense. But yes you can grow your cattleya on rock. Just water more often.

[tucker85]

I seldom see cattleyas mounted on rock but my experience has been that you can mount them on almost anything that isn't toxic. Cattleyas are often grown in rock media but of course when the rock is in small pieces it holds more water. A Cattleya mounted on rock would require frequent watering.

[Zoi2]

C. percivaliana gets pretty big, do you have room for a large rock?
Joann

[GardenTheater]

My C. percivaliana and several other Catts came planted in small chunks of granite. Santa Barbara grows a lot of their Catts in granite chunks. Unpolished granite rock would be an inert type of rock that wouldn't leach bad stuff when you water. Orchid would look nice mounted on a big chunk.

I just checked and the roots are sticking to the small chunks in the pot. Catt roots stick to plastic and clay pots too. Seems like they attach to almost anything.

[james mickelso]

Keeps them from falling out of trees.

[rosemadder]

Be careful about the limestone! Unless it's a species that you know is specifically suited to growing in high pH conditions, you want pH-neutral rocks if you can get them.


You can look up a lot of information on choosing rocks in forums about planted aquariums, where the pH is really important. There are even ways to test a rock, by dribbling vinegar or the like on it to see if there is a reaction.

[Orchidsoutdoors]

I grow many of my cattleyas on rock out in the garden, their roots go for metres through the leaf litter on them and they do well. I also grow them on trees but they need more maintenance as they need to be watered regularly during dry periods (which has been most of the last year unfortunately.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by rosemadder

Be careful about the limestone! Unless it's a species that you know is specifically suited to growing in high pH conditions, you want pH-neutral rocks if you can get them.


You can look up a lot of information on choosing rocks in forums about planted aquariums, where the pH is really important. There are even ways to test a rock, by dribbling vinegar or the like on it to see if there is a reaction.

Agreed.

Please do some research on the rocks from which the orchid is native. It will take a while to figure it out, but eventually you will.