Rescue Cattleya update

[Flower Fool]

Hi everyone

Just thought I would give an update on a cattleya (my first and only one) that I rescued in March. It seems to be doing okay. It is growing a new pseudo bulb. My question is, when can I expect it to bloom. It was not in bloom when I got it, so am quite anxious to see what the flowers will look like.

Thanks everyone

[RosieC]

When a growth matures it may flower from the top of that growth. Not all growths do though, the happier it is, the more likely the growths will flower.

I don't know what influences might help prompt a mature growth to flower, I've not actually been successful with that bit yet, so maybe someone else can advise.

[Optimist]

It still looks like a young immature plant to me. I do not see anything to compare the size to. Once past the nursury, where they are given steroids and such to excellerate their growth, they grow very slowly, so your catt may just be sexually immature. You may have to wait two more years or so. On most of mine, all blcs, I see evidence of one bloom before I got them. On average, they have leaves at least a foot tall. Cattleyas are very large plants, so even if you think yours should be blooming, it may be just a baby. Give it plenty of sunlight, wind, air, natural rain, as you can. Put it outside in the natural elements when you can (make sure deer and leaf eating critters can't get it). Since it is a CAM plant, it breaths during the night.

[tucker85]

It does depend on how mature the plant is, but it also depends on the species in the ancestry of the orchid. Most cattleyas have a specific blooming season but, until your plant blooms, it's difficult to know what time of year it normally blooms. Most of my cattleyas are fall and winter bloomers but there are plenty of spring bloomers around and a few summer bloomers. I always make a note when the plant blooms so I know when to expect it next year.