So What Happens Now?

[Susie11]

So I now have my very own tiny little Cattleya (Bc Tetradip 'Junko') and I am wondering what happens when it is in flower? For example where do the flowers come from? Is there a way to tell when they might be ready to flower etc etc. I have a close up of it so that perhaps somebody can enlighten me. We all have to start somewhere do we not?





I have been told that it is a summer bloomer but somebody else told me that it looks ready to bloom now so I am just a little confused. Any ideas?

[cdayinflorida]

Those new growths...the spikes will form in them

[Susie11]

Those new growths...the spikes will form in them

Thank you cdayinflorida, I think that you mean the two growths without the papery skin are the new growths which the spikes will emerge from? Sorry to be so ignorant but I have never had one of these before so it is all new to me. Do the new growths have to dry out first?

[cdayinflorida]

Exactly, that is where the blooms will emerge. They will form a sheath and you should see buds form.

[cdayinflorida]

See the sheath. This is on a species. C. warneri. If you look close this one has a sheath inside a sheath

[Cjcorner]

Here are a few examples...sometimes as the one plant does...you get buds without a sheath. Mostly though the sheath comes first.



I don't cut a flowers stalk off, after the flowers are done, unless they turn brown. Obviously; this plant bloomed a short while ago...the old stem is still green. There are two buds in there, you can see the first one with the red tinge on it.

[Jose R. Nieves]

Susie:
This is a cross with Brassavola nodosa so it may bloom more than once a year. You need to repot it! A basket would be nice. Blooms will arise from the leave base where it meets with the psedobulb. I will point it out in a picture later on. Will only bloom in new growth, those are the ones lighter colored. Expect 3-4 medium sized star shaped flowers. Color? Very healthy looking plant!
Jose

[cdayinflorida]

I think Connie and covered all but one...the dried up brown sheath My skinneri's bloom for mostly dried up old brown dead looking sheaths.

[Susie11]

Here are a few examples...sometimes as the one plant does...you get buds without a sheath. Mostly though the sheath comes first.



I don't cut a flowers stalk off, after the flowers are done, unless they turn brown. Obviously; this plant bloomed a short while ago...the old stem is still green. There are two buds in there, you can see the first one with the red tinge on it.

Wow. Well thanks alot for explaining that to me. I think I know what to look out for now. I will keep my eye on them and see if there are any significant changes in the leaves.

[Susie11]

Susie:
This is a cross with Brassavola nodosa so it may bloom more than once a year. You need to repot it! A basket would be nice. Blooms will arise from the leave base where it meets with the psedobulb. I will point it out in a picture later on. Will only bloom in new growth, those are the ones lighter colored. Expect 3-4 medium sized star shaped flowers. Color? Very healthy looking plant!
Jose

Thanks Jose. It did come with a pot a little bigger to repot it into but I would be too scared to move it. They don't like to be repotted do they? I don't even know what it's potted in although I think that it's in moss. I can't wait for the blooms now.