Description: The plants are very small with pseudobulbs and leaves at 3-4” (7.5-10cm). The leaves usually have a dark maroon stripe along the midrib. Plants can break multiple leads from the newest bulbs, and can form fairly large clumps. New roots tend to form just once a year, usually in the fall. Most have a single bloom per inflorescence but some may have 2 flowers. Flowers range from orange red to dark red, and have a natural spread of 2” (5cm). Through line breeding and the introduction of tetraploid forms, there are now flowers reaching over 3-3.5” (7.5-8.8cm) across! Flowers last 6-8 weeks in bloom, and have a wonderful crystalline texture that sparkles in sunlight. Unlike other members of the Cattleya family, they are not fragrant.
Culture: Cattleya coccinea is a charming miniature species known for its brilliant orange red flowers. It is native to tropical mountain rainforests in Brazil, growing as epiphytes on trees at an elevation of 2,800-5,500 feet (855 to 1,675 m). The climate is cool and bright, with temperatures sometimes reaching the 80’s (27C), with a dip in winter into the high 30’s (3C). Humidity is high throughout the day with fog often at night. C. coccinea has long had the reputation of being difficult to grow. In some aspects, after growing them for over 8 years, I have to agree. There are a few particular factors that need to be taken into account. The most important factor in growing a healthy plant is to have healthy roots. Starting with a vigorous, well rooted plant is a definite plus. A plant that has lost its roots can be very challenging to bring back to health. Often the plant will sulk for many months before finally dropping its leaves and dying. Be prepared to give them fairly constant attention. These are not plants that you can leave on vacation for weeks and expect to return with happy healthy plants. Although this plant requires some care, there is something about mastering the cultivation of a difficult species, and the gratifying reward in flowering the plant!
Growing Methods
There are several ways to grow C. coccinea. The best method may depend on your growing conditions.
For areas that are on the warm and dry side, it is best to grow in pots. I recommend small clay pots and New Zealand sphagnum moss. It is critical to the health of the roots not to over pot as the center of the moss may stay too wet. Before potting, make sure to enlarge the drainage hole by using a pair of pliers and to gently tap at the hole. Start off gently as too much force will crack the pot! Packing the moss around the roots and into the pot takes a little bit of practice. I can best describe it as a “firm” packing, not too tight and not too loose. If the moss is too tight, it will be difficult to rewet if the moss becomes dry; if too loose then the moss tends to hold too much water. A good test of the correct packing of moss is to pick up the plant by the bulbs; the pot and moss ball should not fall off. Leave some space at the top of the pot so that water can pool slightly, as the moss may be difficult to wet when dry. Also leave some air space at the bottom of the pot so that there is plenty of air circulation. It is extremely important that the moss be replaced annually in the fall. Plant roots will not tolerate stale medium.