All about Cambria orchids | Gardening On

Cambria in bloom

Image – orchidmanuk.blogspot.com

Cambria orchids are gorgeousand very easy to keep indoors, even more so than popular ones like Phalaenopsis. However, few know that they are actually hybrid plants; that is, they do not belong to a botanical genus that exists as such -for now, at least-, but are the result of crosses of specimens of different orchid genera.

Still, just because they’re hybrids doesn’t mean they’re less interesting. In fact, they produce such gorgeous flowers that the experts who created them were definitely worth the time and effort.

Origin and characteristics

Cambria orchids first appeared in 1911thanks to Mr. Charles Vuylesteke crossing Odontoglossum curlum x Miltonia x Cochlioda noetzlianagiving rise to what is known as Vuylstekeara, in honor of its creator. Ten years later a hybrid between Vuylstekeara x Odontoglossum appeared under the name Vuylstekeara Cambria Plush. This plant in the 70s became very famous as a result of obtaining an award from the American Orchid Society.

From then on, a race began to create increasingly striking and spectacular hybrids.and that they also had long-lasting flowers. Little by little they were the ones that emerged, registered and entered the market with great success. So much so that today we will find them in any nursery or garden store, with the name of Cambria, the following being the best known:

  • burrageara: it is a hybrid of Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum x Oncidium.
  • wilsonara: it is a hybrid of Odontoglossum x Cochlioda x Oncidium.
  • belara: is a hybrid of Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum.

All of them they are characterized by having buried pseudobulbs from which the leaves sprout, which are simple and whole, lanceolate, green in color. The flowers arise from flower stalks and can appear in number from 3 to 7. These can be of very different colors, but dark red speckled with white is more frequent.

What are their cares?

Now that we know where Cambria orchids come from, let’s see how they are cared for:

  • Location:
    • Exterior: in semi-shade. Only if you live in a tropical climate without frost.
    • Indoor: in a room with plenty of natural light.
  • Irrigation: 3-4 times a week in summer, somewhat less the rest of the year. Use rainwater or lime-free.
  • Earth: crumbled pine bark mixed with a little peat moss and perlite.
  • Subscriber: in spring and summer with a 20:20:20 fertilizer, that is, 20 parts of nitrogen, 20 of phosphorus and 20 of potassium, every three weeks. The dose is 0,5g for each liter of water.
  • Transplant: every two years, in spring.
  • Rusticity: sensitive to cold. The temperature should not drop below 10ºC.
Cambria in bloom

Image – jardinage.ooreka.fr

What do you think of these plants?

All about Cambria orchids | Gardening On

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