Help with brassocattleya/epicattleya (?) - flower sheaths, when to repot

[adam123]

Hi everyone,
I'm sorry if this post isn't in the right place on the forum… Given that I don't even really know what kind of orchid this is, I thought it best to consider it as part of the Cattleya alliance and post here!
First of all, I'd really like some help with identifying this orchid. I've been doing a lot of research online, and come to the conclusion that it's probably a Brassocattleya Makai Mayumi, but I'm really not sure. I've also seen similar plants called Epicattleya and more recently, Brassanthe (or thereabouts…). Knowing exactly what it is will really help with understanding my orchid's needs.
I bought it a about a year and a half ago in flower, and it has since done rather well… It's kept in a very bright position (hanging under a skylight), but with very little direct sunlight. Since I got it, it has grown at least another 20 pseudobulbs which are just maturing now, and is sending up lots more. However, of all the new pseudobulbs, only 2 so far have sheaths… Could more grow on the maturing pseudobulbs or do they only come out as they grow?
I'd also really like to see this plant flower (nothing surprising there, I hear you say…)… But I'm not really sure of how to go about it! I know that sheaths don't necessarily mean flowers, so how can I encourage flowering? Does the plant require a temperature drop? More/less light? Big day/night differences?
I repotted when I first bought it as it was growing loads of roots outside the pot. I thought it would be OK for a while and that I could at least get it to flower once before repotting again. However, it has grown much more than I expected, and is starting to grow outside the pot again. I know that Cattleyas in general need a little time to readapt to a new pot, and I'm worried that if I repot now (even though the time seems right with all the new growths and roots), I'm going to miss out on flowers… What do you advise?
I'm sorry for asking these questions to which I could probably find the answers elsewhere, but without knowing exactly what plant this is, I'm in the dark!
Thanks in advance for your help!

[dounoharm]

looks like some sort of brasovola cross.....i would suggest more light, everything else looks good, you are getting the growth, but it is soft growth and may not flower if it doesnt show a sheath..,,more light is always a good thing when your plant is such a lovely green..,...gl

[adam123]

Ok great! I have now moved it to a position where it will get a few hours full sun in the morning… Do you think that will be sufficient?
How about repotting?
Are there any other conditions to respect for it to flower?

[james mickelso]

To flower well catts and their cousins need a drop in temp between day and night. 10-20 degrees f. They need good light levels from day one. They will throw out a sheath starting about when they are half grown. Depends on the cultivar and species. Give it as much light as it can take without burning (feel the leaf. If very warm to the touch, lessen the light level). A couple hours of sun in the morning or afternoon would be about right. But don't go just by leaf color to tell if it is getting enough light. Watering. Water till it runs freely out the drain holes. Looks like your culture for growing is very good. I have started changing the N-P-K levels during new growth and had very good results. High nitrogen until it is half to three quarters grown and then switch to a low nitrogen high potassium/phosphorus food after that. I would not divide this plant. Grow it to specimen size by repotting into next larger size pot when you get new growth throwing out roots.

[Gage]

Looks like you have a happy plant. I agree that the newer growths look like they may need more light to harden off, and on that note I would guess more light is all you may need to get it to bloom. In my experience Brassavola intergeneric crosses like yours bloom on every new growth if it is large enough. Generally a growth with a sheath should bloom at some point, but that's not always the case. Sheath just means the growth is probably sizable enough to bloom. Good luck!