seedling - Belize and Guatemala are the home to this medium to large sized, cool to warm growing lithophyte found at elevations of 210 to 900 meters on rocky cliffs near fast moving streams with a humid atmosphere that has club-shaped pseudobulbs carrying 2 rarely 3, apical, narrowly oblong, leathery, dark green leaves and blooms in the fall on a terminal, erect or nodding, long-stalked, to 10" [to 25 cm] long, few to many flowered inflorescence with 2, basal, compressed spathes that is not long lasting and gives rise to up to 15 flowers. It requires a short winter rest from water and fertilizer after the completion of flowering. Cattleya bowringiana is native to Central America in the countries of Belize and Guatemala and, along with C. skinneri, is the most northern growing of the Cat-tleya species. It is unique among the Cattleya species for having a bulbous swelling at the base of its pseudobulbs, from which the roots and growing eyes emerge. Cattleya bowringiana is a remarkably adaptable plant. It can be found thriving as a lithophyte in rocky ravines, with the plants matted to the bare rocks in full sun. It is found growing as a terrestrial on quartz sand along rapidly flowing streams, and, as a typical epiphyte, on large tropical trees. Plants grow at altitudes from a few hundred feet above sea level to as high as 3,500 feet. Able to grow in such a wide variety of environments, it is no wonder C. bowringiana has always been one of the most popular Cattleya species in cultivation. As one reviewer put it, There is no special treatment for these plants; they just grow. Although C. bowringiana is the perfect plant for beginners, with its vigor and indestructibility, it is also an excellent choice for those who like to display their skills at growing. With just ordinary care, the pseudobulbs will reach 10 to 15 inches in height. In the hands of a skilled grower, however, the pseudobulbs can reach 20 to 30 inches. Instead of producing five to 10 flowers per spike, these well-grown plants will reward the grower with a head of 15 to 25 flowers. With two or three strong leads in a 7-inch pot, C. bowringiana can easily produce 50 to 60 flowers, and there is a record of a plant with nine spikes bearing 195 flowers (almost 22 flowers per spike). Like an actors actor, C. bowringiana is very much an orchid experts orchid. ALTHOUGH Cattleya bowringiana is probably the easiest of all the Cattleya species to grow, it does have its preferred conditions. Like most Cattleya species, it benefits from lots of sun and air and, when actively growing, should receive an abundance of water. Many growers under-pot these plants so they can be watered more often and still not develop a sour, soggy medium. This means you allow only enough space in the pot for one years growth instead of the usual two years. Cattleya bowringiana can be repotted at almost any time of the year, but the best time is when new roots begin to emerge from the swollen base of the lead pseudobulb. When repotting, it is important to keep the bottom of the swollen base of the lead pseudobulb level with the surface of the medium and not below it. The eyes, which produce the new growths, are set quite low on C. bowringiana, and when they are covered with medium, the new growth will sometimes rot as it begins to grow. In the United States, Cattleya bowringiana will send out new growths in late May or June that will mature by late summer. The plants will flower without a rest period in late September and October. The number of flowers produced on a flower spike depends on the overall size and strength of the new pseudobulb. The taller and more robust the pseudobulbs, the more flowers you will get. Flower color is also enriched on strong pseudobulbs and the flowers will last longer up to 31/2 weeks instead of 21/2 weeks. A.A. Chadwick.