"not blooming size" meaning

[pinett]

hello to everyone,
i don't catch the real meaning of this expression "not blooming size".

for example, if I buy a not blooming size vanda, how many time I have to wait (months, 1 or 2 or 10 years!!!))?????
i'm just curious of everything.
thank youuu

[orchidsarefun]

NBS means near blooming size which does give the Seller a lot of leeway, depending on the genus. Best to always ask the age of the plant and then at what age the plant typically blooms

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[pinett]

thank you for your reply!

[Ray]

Don't forget that your individual cultural parameters affect that, as well.

If you and I buy identical plants from a vendor, it might very well bloom on the next growth in my greenhouse, where it gets closer to "ideal" growing conditions, so can grow and build up reserves quickly, while on your window sill, it may take longer, both due to slower growth and reserve accumulation.

[pinett]

ray, obviously is matter of optimal condition and you are extremely right because in my little experience, I bought 3 apparently identical dendrobium in the same greenhouse and then gave two as gifts; the result is that we have now three different stages of growing and different time in blooming....
but i'm a very curious because i can't understand if there is a way to recognize the age of an orchid, just looking for example to the length of her canes...the thickness of the pseudobulbs and other features that are peculiar to that specific plant. Obviously if grown in the right condition.:big grin: conditions that probably I don't realize!
i understand that the point is to optimize growing conditions, and I don't have sufficient experience to focus this topic. So if I see an orchid in optimal condition i can't say "she's too young, maybe the next year will bloom".
For all orchids is there a kind of childhood in which they prepare for future blooming or is this wrong? i'm so fascinated!

[bil]

To bloom, orchids need a certain number of Pbulbs, to give them the strength, and if they are poorly fed, or badly lit they may take forever. It's the old bit of string, I'm afraid.

[pinett]

i like this kind of bet! every spring is always a bet for me :-) thank you

[Rothrock42]

bil - what does "old bit of string" mean? I've never heard that expression.

[pinett]

it's a very curious expression also for me...if i've understand the meaning is: variable and impossible to be defined...!

[Orchid Whisperer]

If I were a seller, I would reserve NBS / near blooming size for plants clearly close to maturity (almost at size at which others of similar parentage bloomed, for example).

Blooming size would be, for example, a 4+ pseudobulb Cattleya division off a plant that has bloomed. Or a plant that has bloomed previously.

'Not blooming size" could be anything and could mean you will be waiting for 5 or 10 years.