No signs of flowers on new growths...

[NYCorchidman]

I have Susan Fender "Cinnamon Stick" that was in flower back in the summer time. It had such a nice fragrance! I only wished the bloom lasted longer (it lasted for about one month for me).

The pb that flowered grew two new pbs, which I was very excited about thinking that I would see two flower spikes coming out of each of two new growths.

Well, the new growths are not making any sheaths although they are nearly mature, so I have given up my hope of seeing those fragrant flowers this winter. The leaves are as long as the previous one, but a little narrower. I put the plant in the west window where it only gets about one hour afternoon sun and it is quite shady during most of the day.
So I guess it is not getting enough light. It's my first time trying this type of orchid.

Hopefully, I will have better results next year when I have a south window. A little disappointed now but excited about this plant growing a few different directions making lots of flowers. Today, I noticed a third bud swelling up.

[Ray]

I would speculate a combo of insufficient light and nutrition.

Keep in mind that they need to be increased gradually and together.

[orchid-eric]

I would have to agree with Ray. 1 hour of light I don't think is enough for any orchid ?

[InspirChid1712]

More light!!! :-D BUT... I find that some of my cattleyas produce non-flowering growths in between blooming seasons, and they do this every year (even with excellent growing conditions). I used to feel disappointed when I'd get a new plant and it didn't rebloom on the next set of growths, but I have come to expect flowers more in the season when I acquired the plant. Yours will bloom again! Not to fear!

PS- I MUST GET THAT PLANT!!!! ITS GORGEOUS!!!!

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by orchid-eric

I would have to agree with Ray. 1 hour of light I don't think is enough for any orchid ?

Note that I mentioned one hour of sun, which means direct sun. With one hour of direct sun and bright shade all day, most orchids grow and flower.
I have many orchids of different kinds and they all grow and flower well, although my dendrobiums have less flowers than they did in the summer with more direct sun available for them.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by InspirChid1712

More light!!! :-D BUT... I find that some of my cattleyas produce non-flowering growths in between blooming seasons, and they do this every year (even with excellent growing conditions). I used to feel disappointed when I'd get a new plant and it didn't rebloom on the next set of growths, but I have come to expect flowers more in the season when I acquired the plant. Yours will bloom again! Not to fear!

PS- I MUST GET THAT PLANT!!!! ITS GORGEOUS!!!!

I had one cattleya that grew empty sheath. then I read about how some cattleyas stay like that for a while and then eventually produce flowers. Well, mine never did. I waited all summer, and then the green sheath turned yellow and brown, and then withered without making any flowers. With the very limited space I have in the apartment, I dumped that plant out. lol

I was about to dump this one out as well, but since it is having new growths spreading in three directions, I think I will just keep it for the future performance.

By the way, anybody know if I can keep my cattleya dry in the shade for the winter? My apartment stays quite warm(70 during the day and a little lower at night) but since I cannot provide enough light for this plant, I would like to have them "rest" until the spring comes.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by Ray

I would speculate a combo of insufficient light and nutrition.

Keep in mind that they need to be increased gradually and together.

Thank you, Ray.
I think it is the light. I fertilize it regularly.
I cannot believe how small the new pbs are underneath the new leaves!
I hope this does not affect the future growth too much.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

By the way, anybody know if I can keep my cattleya dry in the shade for the winter? My apartment stays quite warm(70 during the day and a little lower at night) but since I cannot provide enough light for this plant, I would like to have them "rest" until the spring comes.

Catts don't need a winter rest, and on the contrary you should keep up regular care to have a nice strong plant. With any luck you'll get blooms next year.

I only have one Catt, also also struggle with due to low light. It oftens produces empty sheaths in the fall, and I usually get a few blooms early summer (since the window gradually get more and more hours of direct sun as spring progresses)
But last month I moved it to the south window at my office, hopefully it will like that!

[NYCorchidman]

Thank you, Camille.
I looked really hard through that little space between the new leaf and the leaf sheath that surrounds the new leaf today. The leaf is almost out but not all the way. I do see very small and thin sheath coming out, but it is really small and papery thin, so I don't have any expectations or hope.
Hopefully, it will grow and flower like crazy (With three new leads spreading in three directions!) next summer once I'm in a new apartment with sunny window. I can almost smell that scent again!

[tucker85]

I agree with the previous posts on light and fertilizer but many cattleyas only bloom once a year and four weeks in bloom is pretty normal.