Cattleya harpophylla

An unusual epiphytic member of the rupicolous 'Parviflorae' group (formerly Laelia harpophylla), with thin cane-like pseudobulbs, a single long narrow leaf and bright orange star-shaped flowers. It grows on trees in humid forests of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and prefers more shade and moisture than its rock-dwelling relatives.

At home, aim for

Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Humid airBand in Plantistry

Light Dappled lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on trees (epiphyte)

Where it grows wild

An epiphyte on trunks and branches in humid, mostly montane Atlantic Forest, where it grows in broken shade rather than exposed sun.

Recorded elevations are 250–1,886 m (median 1,155 m); Wikipedia gives 500–900 m. The measured climate, from sites at 250–1,886 m, averages intermediate conditions.

Brazil: Minas GeraisBrazil: Espírito Santo

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 3.0 licence, unmodified.