Bud Development Questions

[3rdMaestro]

Hey to all!
In orchids that produce buds along with the new growth (I'll be using cattleya for this example), at what point has the plant decided that it will be developing a bud or not? Is it as soon as the new growth begins growing? If not, and its at some point later during the development, could a grower notice the new growth, then change conditions to promote a flower, or is that a pointless endeavor?

[Roberta]

The relationship between new growth and bud development varies widely, depending on which orchid. Hybrids, of course, will be some combination (not easily determined) resulting from its various ancestors. In the Cattleya group, you can have the buds develop within the new growth and pop out with no sheath (like Sophronitis and some of the Laelia/Cattleyas like C. jongheana), or develop a sheath 6 or 8 months before bloom time and then develop a bud closer to that time (like L. (c) tenebrosa) or something in between. And you can have new growth develop (like in spring), roots develop in the fall and blooming happen then (like C. dowiana... really important to note because repotting needs to happen based on roots not new growth) So can you outsmart a plant and change its trajectory? Probably not. Just give each plant the best culture that you can, and the plant will do what it's going to do.

[estación seca]

For Catts flowering from the apex of the pseudobulb, whether it flowers or not is probably determined by how good conditions are as it develops. It is important they have enough water, light and fertilizer as new growth is breaking. If a Catt pseudobulb grows, then does not flower at the appropriate time, it generally will not ever flower. Other orchids are not necessarily like this.