King Cattleya Plant Care

King Cattleya (Cattleya rex) belongs to the Orchidaceae family within the Cattleya genus. King Cattleya is native to montane forests in Peru and Bolivia.

King Cattleya displays an upright, pseudobulbous growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. King Cattleya produces showy, colorful blooms in various sizes and shapes.

Leaf size: approximately 8 inches.

Water a young or newly planted King Cattleya every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

King Cattleya thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing King Cattleya in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Cattleya rex tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. King Cattleya prefers humidity levels of 50–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Loose, well-draining orchid mix with bark and perlite. Good drainage is essential for King Cattleya to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed King Cattleya every 4 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with bright indirect light and loose, well-draining orchid mix with bark and perlite. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

King Cattleya is suited to USDA Zone 10b – 12b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

King Cattleya can spread to about 2 ft (0.5 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune King Cattleya while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

King Cattleya is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 10). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

King Cattleya can be propagated through division, back bulbs, keiki propagation. Similar propagation techniques also apply to cattleya orchid plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

King Cattleya is susceptible to scale insects, spider mites, aphids. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

King Cattleya grows outdoors in USDA Zone 10b – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 10b. King Cattleya is native to montane forests in Peru and Bolivia. In cooler regions, grow King Cattleya as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.