BLC Hawaiian Wizard 'Magic Spell' 8 flowers

[Lucy Girl]

My orchid has 8 buds on the one stem. 4 are open and additional 4 are in process of opening. Is this normal for this orchid? It was deflasked in 2/06. I bought it in 2012 from a grower here in Hawaii. My first bloom was Oct 2012 then Oct 2013 & 2014 two flowers It did not bloom at all in 2015. This year in April I had 3 flowers. It is now going to bloom with 8 flowers. The smell is wonderful. If this is not normal I need to figure out what I did to get it to bloom like this. After it blooms I will either need to cut it back and repot in same 6 inch pot or move it to an 8 inch pot. All my new growth is hanging over the edge. Any suggestions?

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Bigger and older plants make bigger, better and more flowers. You're taking good care of it.

When you repot, remember the plant will be more impressive when flowering if it is a large plant. Don't divide it unless you don't have space for a large plant. If you can, put it into a pot just large enough for 2 years' growth. Most people repot Cattleya hybrids every 2 years or so.

And when you have made 5 posts you can show us photos of your plant. We would very much like to see it!

[KonaLinda]

Welcome Lucy Girl--it's about time you join OB!

[PaphMadMan]

It is true that bigger older well grown plants have the potential for more and larger flowers. Still, 8 on a spike is perhaps unusual for this type of Catt. None of the major ancestors of this hybrid normally have more than 6 - 7, and the the most significant ancestor is C. walkeriana with usually 1-3. The power of selective breeding and perfect care. It may have had something to do with the weather in the last year, or even that it is slightly overgrown for the pot. But you can certainly take some credit for it.

We will require proof with a picture when it has most of the flowers open.

One of the parents of this cross is Rlc. Hillary Rodham Clinton, so maybe it is just enthusiastic about the upcoming election.