Cattleya tenebrosa outcross #3505 (‘Pololei Wine’ x ‘Rainforest’ FCC /AOS) (approximately 25 seedlings per flask).

The Species: These are both very fine clones and should produce outstanding flowers. This is a Brazilian endemic, this medium sized species has large flowers on a medium sized plant. It usually has 3 to 4 of the fragrant flowers.

Culture: I have seen reccomendations to grow this with 60F nights. Here in northern California it is more often grown in cooler conditions. I grow mine most often in a greenhouse with 50F minimum winter nights and know other growers who are in unheated greenhouses where it frequently goes well below that. Grow in bright light in an open medium such as coarse bark so that it drains rapidly. I water all year with a few days drying time between and a bit less frequent watering in the winter. When the temperatures are low, keep the plant dry.

Cattleya tenebrosa This is is C. tenebrosa 'Waterfield Copper Queen’. I don’t have any images of ‘Rainforest’ FCC /AOS, so this is the closest that I have with permission to use.