Anyway too speed up bud growth?!
 

Hey Orchidboard!:)

Ok so my question is, I have this cattleya with buds on it, is there anyway to make them open quicker? Maybe temporarily fertilising it all week. I need them to be open by next week, preferably Monday when school starts back ;)! I mean people must do this to hurry prized orchids in time for a show, so what methods could I use?

P.s. They are for my lady, that's why it has to be this particular cattleya!:rofl:

Not sure, maybe play around with temperature

Yep, warmer temps will speed up growth, but if you mess with it too much, you could blast the buds, so I would stop messing with it and just explain to your princess that you had to wait for them to open. Or you could give it to her with buds and let her enjoy the wait. I don't think people do anything to speed up the blooming of cattleyas. Certain ones can be photoperiod controlled and they can be induced to bloom at a certain time, but you would have to have everything perfectly controlled. It's easier to do with phalaenopsis- getting them to bloom at certain times, but with cattleyas, you have to wait for them to complete their growth. Anyway, I know how frustrating it can be. I have a mossiae that will bloom just a bit too early for the spring orchid show and by the time the DAY of the show arrives, the flowers fade. ITS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN A ROW LOL

---------- Post added at 10:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 AM ----------

Oh yeah, one more thing about temperature: if the spike grows too fast because both day and night temps are too warm, the flowers can be floppy on the spike.

I have a catt that quickly grew 2 pbulbs with sheaths (over about a 2 month period), and then the sheaths just sat there for 5 more months before I saw buds developing in them. The buds took another 6-7 weeks to mature and open up, and boy, was it ever worth the wait!

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...001-085529.jpg

I would hate to jeopardize flowers for the sake of a deadline date.

This is a great question although I would be afraid of blasting. I have a mini Catt in bud right now that I first noticed a bud developing over a month ago. I feel like it's taking forever especially since one week it'd appear to make decent progress then the next there was no visible difference. Now the bud is fattening up more but I will say it is kind of limp not that I know whether or not it should be, nor do I care. But I have wondered not because I have a deadline, rather I've worried maybe I'm not doing something right...although it should say something that it spiked in the first place yeah...? Ah the miracle and frustrating desire for mastery of Orchids...gotta love it. :D

The bloooms are open, they opened pretty quickly, and nicer blooms then usual... There's another sheeth, and it needs repotting soon also.:biggrin:

Ohhh, that is very nice. What's it called? She will be quite happy. Happy for you that they opened finally and quickly. :D Did you wind up making any changes or just let it be?

Congrats! They are beautiful!!! Now if only I can find an orchid growing boyfriend....

It's called LC. Hue Hyan beauty, she better love it :rofl: and no I just left it alone, although fertilised it weakly a few days a week

---------- Post added at 02:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:18 AM ----------

Hahah this made my day! Thankyou Missanna208!!!:blushing: