Cattleya warscewiczii Habitat in Colombia 2024

[DrLeslieEe]

While attending to judge the Medellin shows, I was lucky to be included in a Frontino Orchid Expedition to see one of the Cattleya warscewiczii habitat owned in a sector of private land.

The 5 hour drive through mountainous terrains and cloud forests was exciting, with the car halting to a stop every time someone yelled ‘orchid’! We saw many species of Cyrtochilums, Epidendrum, Sobralia, Oncidiums, Catasetums etc etc etc.

But the highlight was to see the King of Cattleyas growing on ‘Guli’ tree crevices, trunks and branches on the hilly mountain sides with stunning views. Elevation was around 1500-200m and temperature range from 15-25C.

Plants were plentiful with some as big as 20 bulbs and many seedlings on the branches. The roots were surround by moss and ant colonies (that protected the plants from pests). Many plants were holding multiple pods, showing the healthy insect pollinator population. Unfortunately it wasn’t the blooming season but I was sent pics by the guide. Interestingly, it is also the same habitat as Cattleya dowiana aurea…



Last pic is a bloom pic in same area during dry season (courtesy of my guide Leon).

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[Paphman910]

Wow, so nice to see in situ photos of how tough of a plant they are!

 

[monocotman]

Wow what a treat see these Leslie! Wonderful.
It must be fairly wet to support all those epiphytes.

 

[GuRu]

That's lovely to see some photos of the habitate of C. warscewiczii and thanks Leslie for posting some of you photos.

..... The 5 hour drive through mountainous terrains and cloud forests was exciting, with the car halting to a stop every time someone yelled ‘orchid’! We saw many species of Cyrtochilums, Epidendrum, Sobralia, Oncidiums, Catasetums etc etc etc...............

I'm wondering that you could drive at all in the end.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Wow what a treat see these Leslie! Wonderful.
It must be fairly wet to support all those epiphytes.

They have two rainy seasons: April-June and Sept-Dec.

Such a wonderful experience to be part of to see these majestic plants in their native habitat!

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Rudolf, luckily I didn’t have to drive lol.

 

[dodidoki]

Many thanks for post. I saw somewhere a Columbian farmer, he put some gigas onto the proof, surrounded with cattle manure and did nothing else...his plants turned to huge clumps with many dozens of shoots and with 80-100 flowers /clumps. Sometimes he puts some more manure on clumps....i tried to find his post but couldn t...incredible....

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Many thanks for post. I saw somewhere a Columbian farmer, he put some gigas onto the proof, surrounded with cattle manure and did nothing else...his plants turned to huge clumps with many dozens of shoots and with 80-100 flowers /clumps. Sometimes he puts some more manure on clumps....i tried to find his post but couldn t...incredible....

Yes that’s the normal practice there with the manure.

There are many people in local villages around this habitat who save the plants from the forest floor, that was knocked off by wind or storms, and establish them on their garden trees. In fact, many of the exceptional cultivars were bought as partitions from these collections, such as ‘Katia’ and ‘Ithuango’ and even ‘Floresta’!!

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Btw it’s Colombia, with an ‘o’.

 

[terryros]

I was surprised by how thick and relatively short the pseudobulbs seem to be. The leaves also seem wide and thick. Is this from the culture or is it genetic?

 

[monocotman]

Leslie, do the plants attempt to grow during both wet periods or just one?

 

[DrLeslieEe]

I was surprised by how thick and relatively short the pseudobulbs seem to be. The leaves also seem wide and thick. Is this from the culture or is it genetic?

I think this population here has thicker leaves.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Leslie, do the plants attempt to grow during both wet periods or just one?

Not sure, let me confirm with the guide.

Ok just found out they bloom only once Feb/March.

 

[terryros]

Which is early autumn/fall, correct?

 

[monocotman]

Leslie, when do the plants produce new growths?
You’re saying that they flower just before the second wet season of the year. How does this relate to their growth?

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Which is early autumn/fall, correct?

More like spring …

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Leslie, when do the plants produce new growths?
You’re saying that they flower just before the second wet season of the year. How does this relate to their growth?

The growths start after Sept, then cold chill in Oct/Nov/Dec to bloom Feb/March.

Apparently the new growths in the second rainy season is rare due to long drought before.

 

[monocotman]

Ok many thanks!

 

[terryros]

More like spring …

I forgot that Colombia is just north of the equator, so still northern hemisphere. Seasons still correspond to ours in North America.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

I forgot that Colombia is just north of the equator, so still northern hemisphere. Seasons still correspond to ours in North America.

Almost but not quite. Their rainy seasons don’t correspond with ours.