Cattleya Hail Storm
 

Hello orchid peeps!! I'm only 2 years into growing orchids so would love some advice on a recently acquired plant. The tag says Cattleya Hail Storm and I was told it has only bloomed once. What should I do?

I would repot now. Something this vigorous is probably in active growth in Florida now.

A previously-bloomed Cattleya that isn't blooming now is almost certainly not getting enough light.

Thanks!
 

9 new growths. Thank you(:

Certainly go ahead and repot if there is active growth, and do increase light.

It is worth noting that this is Guarianthe Hail Storm (Gur. bowringiana x Gur. skinneri), not a true Cattleya in current classification. Find cultural instructions for those species specifically, not generic bifoliate Catt care.

It is clearly a vigorous plant. Good care and increased light should get it to flower, but will probably take until the next round of new growth, not the currently mature or mostly grown ones. It will probably be a fall through late winter bloomer for you, based on dates it was previously awarded in Florida.

With that parentage, expect a vigorous monster in Florida. When you repot, err on the side of a pot a little too big rather than too small, unless you want to repot every year.

And read up on both parents.
Cattleya bowringiana
Cattleya skinneri

I agree with the increase-light recommendation (gradual increase).

It has been repotted 😁 There was algae, spider mites and cockroaches inside the media. There were a couple growths going into the pot, so I got to make a few divisions(: Would love to send you one for your help, estacion seca.

Inside the pot
 

New growths going the wrong way!

Update: plant has been divided another 3 times since this post. Thanks so much for your help estacion seca 😊 I hope your division is coming along nicely!

Hoping to see blooms again in October but here is Oct 2021’s best looking spike

I don't know what happened to this. In November 2018 most of my collection was eaten by pack rats when I was out of town for a month, and the rats stole the labels from most of remaining plants. I don't know whether this plant is a NOID here or was eaten.

Blooming again
 

2024

Wow! Super fun to read the history of this plant and see the spectacular result. Nice growing!!

That’s impressive!

Thanks for coming back to report on the progress.

Holy cow! Nicely done!

That’s fantastic, congratulations!