Getting Lc. Tropical Pointer 'Cheetah' to bloom?

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have a Lc. Tropical Pointer 'Cheetah' that I have been growing for probably 3 or 4 years now. It seems to have reached maximum height, with new growths consistently 6 to 8 inches tall, multiple leads, probably 30 to 40 pseudobulbs, an insanely large number of roots - and it has never bloomed. I have always grown it with my other Catts (same light, etc.) which seem to bloom with no difficulty.

Any ideas why this plant may not be blooming? Does it require higher light than other Catts? What should its bloom season be? I will say that the plant has significantly outgrown its current pot. I was hoping for at least one bloom before repotting and dividing it.

Any advice appreciated.

[Orchids4ever]

Hi
Sorry I cannot give you advise,I like to know too,as I'm in the same Boat,but mine is not as big as yours yet.But maybe devide and re-pot it ,it might shock it into blooming

[Luizacft]

This plant is just magnificent when it flowers. I do not have it (but i want it) and Internet tells me this is a cross between: C intermedia and Lc Tropic Glow. Lc Tropic Glow (C milleri x Lc hybrid which has several species on its lineage like C labiata, C bicolor, C aclandiae, C dowiana, C tenebrosa, etc). General Cattleya care and light should suffice for your plant. I found it's an October blooming and temperature tolerant. The site I found this info is an US site, so blooms during fall is my best guess. Try increasing light without burning her. Maybe she blooms for you on next fall.


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[silken]

I have a small one that seems to be taking forever just to grow. Hopefully someone who blooms this will help. I think WhiteRabbit does.

However, I looked in OrchidWiz and one grandparent of this hybrid is C. milleri. OW says they can be difficult to bloom and even cultivate. The addition of a rusty nail (some iron supplement) can help with bloom. C. milleri is also a rupiculous orchid, and has a distinct dry and cool rest in winter. Not sure if those conditions are required by a cultivar with 25% milleri in its makeup. I think I might add some iron supplement to mine now and then tho.

[Leafmite]

Wow, good luck! I cannot offer you any pointers as I don't have this. I have seen many posts of this in bloom, though, so hopefully someone will chime in and tell you how they grow it.

[isurus79]

I just got a huge piece of this one from a grower who had to chop his up. The particular plant was continuously in bloom from March through October this year. He grows it with all his other Catts and doesn't do anything special. It gets bright and hot conditions (outside in the Texas heat) during the growing season.

[WhiteRabbit]

Does it appear to have bloomed previously - before you got it? Mine blooms easily on a windowsill that gets moderate sun, and bloomed on a plant in a 3" pot (not a division).

[wgama]

Perhaps you are giving it too much nitrogen? Ive had some catts skip making buds on otherwise healthy growths if I'm not careful with fertilizing.

[Orchid Whisperer]

@ Sonya I've had it a few years and have never seen any indication that it has bloomed before.

@ Winston I am pretty careful with fertilizer these days, opting for lower N formulations. At one time, I did the weakly - weekly fertilizer schedule. Weakly meaning 1/4 teaspoon/gallon instead of the recommended 1 tsp/gal.

This year, I'm using 1/4 strength (1/4 tsp/gal) of 11-35-15, typically once a month to twice a month in summer outdoors, same fertilizer & strength once every two months during the winter indoors. So, I don't think I'm over-doing the fertilizer (certainly will listen if you think that is still too much). I'm seeing pretty good flowering on my mature Catts.

[WhiteRabbit]

Honestly - I have no idea ... I wondered if it had ever bloomed, simply because I can't imagine why it doesn't.

I try not to allow mine to dry completely in-between waterings, as new growth seems to get crimped up if it regularly dries while it is growing.
I keep my heat low, so in winter it's growing coolish - and I don't have a/c, so it's getting warmer temps in summer. I believe I had read it's quite temperature tolerant - intermedia is a parent - so I don't think it's fussy about temps.

I have now, for about a year been only fertilizing very lightly, and infrequently - but prior had been fertilizing once a week (3 weeks a month) with orchid fertilizer, 1/2 tsp per gallon, and it bloomed fine that way, so I don't think you have been over-fertilizing.

The only thing I can think of to try, perhaps, is some cool night temps if it's typically staying on the warm side I don't know tho if it needs that or not.