encouraging growth on Prosthechea cochleata
 

This is a question from my dad - you get one cattleya to bloom and suddenly you become the source of knowledge!

He's the original orchid grower in this family and has an established Prosthechea cochleata with some back bulbs that have already bloomed. His reading says those could be separated from the plant and used to propagate. His question is can that growth be stimulated without separating, so the plant is growing in a couple directions. I got him a Bc Yellow Bird for Christmas which is growing in multiple directions.

Don't be in a rush to divide. A division needs at least 3 firm pseudobulbs (with or without leaves) to give the plant enough reserves to continue to thrive and a new growth on each division putting out new growth. Orchids grow slowly, so patience is key.

When they have good growing conditions (temperature, humidity, light), plenty of water and plenty of fertilizer, and are bigger plants, they make multiple new growths regularly. Focus on growing conditions and you will soon have a big plant. Note that this species needs a lot more water to grow well than does Bc. Yellow Bird. Many people stand this in a dish of water.