Is the Cattleya Orchid your birthday flower?

One of the three flowers of October 14th is Cattleya Orchids. A Cattleya is a type of tropical orchid, known for its large, showy flowers and is often called the "corsage orchid" or "queen of orchids". They are native to Central and South American habitats and they need high light, consistent watering, and high humidity with good air circulation for successful cultivation.

Even though Japan is very humid in summer, I rarely see these flowers grown in Japan. In fact, this past summer, in June, I saw them for the first time (pictured) in Kawaguchi Green Center. Maybe its because they are actually a winter flower! They typically bloom from October to February, when it is dry with less natural light in Japan. They are cultivated in Japan though, so you can sometimes purchase them in flower shops.

Cattleya orchids are the national flower of Colombia. The language of flowers for the cattleya is "graceful lady," "mature adult charm," "magic," and "enchanting." Cattleya is the birth flower not just for October 14th, but also for January 13th,  November 24th, and December 23rd. .