When can I expect my Cattleya to bloom?

[Roberta]

Orchids, indeed, teach patience. The secret to always having something in bloom is to have lots of orchids, bought in bloom at different times of the year. They'll tend to re-bloom at the same time. Having something in bloom makes it easier to wait for the ones that aren't. But it sounds like you are taking excellent care of yours. It will bloom when it is ready, it may need another year or so of growing to mature enough.

[Wade Coleman]

So different Cattleya varieties bloom typically at different times of the year?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Wade Coleman

So different Cattleya varieties bloom typically at different times of the year?

Definitely. Most species have a specific bloom time (there are a few exceptions with more than one), and that's one of the factors in hybridizing. A spring bloomer crossed with a fall bloomer might bloom in the summer, or bloom in both spring and and fall, or favor one parent or the other. As hybrids get more complex, the bloom time(s) are even more variable. If you buy a plant in bloom, you know when at least one of the bloom times is. If it's a young plant that has never bloomed, you can be surprised, the anticipation is part of the fun.

This same behavior shows in rooting behavior as well, which affects ideal potting times. Species tend to have one time of year when they put out most of their roots (which may or may not have anything to do with either flowers or new growth) Hybrids of species with different rooting times may put out new roots more than once a year. Again, you just have to observe to figure out the timing for any particular plant.