How many pbs before catt will bloom?

[drone]

Is there a pattern?

[Royal]

Originally Posted by drone

Is there a pattern?

No.

[Orchid126]

In most cases the recommendation is a minimum of three bulbs, four or more is much better.

[Call_Me_Bob]

i think it is determined by maturity and health. not by number of psuedobulbs. but usually a healthier older plant will have more psuedobulbs...

[johnblagg]

well maturity of the plant is a sure factor more so than number of Pbs.....I have a couple of catts with 20 pbs now and no bloom as of yet ...they were 2 to 3 years from bloom size when I bought them and I will have had them 2 years this coming August ... they did well and are very nice plants, but they just are not old enough to bloom yet

By the same token I have a plant I bought in bloom that only had 3 pbs at that time...it now has 5 and will be in bloom in about a month

[Orchid126]

What are you fertilizing with? If you're giving a lot of nitrogen, back off of it because it tells the plants to grow leaves and stems, and not blooms.

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by Orchid126

What are you fertilizing with? If you're giving a lot of nitrogen, back off of it because it tells the plants to grow leaves and stems, and not blooms.

ME? I use orchids plus ...and lol the plants with so many Pbs that I have are simply not old enough to bloom yet ....lol well grown dosent have to mean over fertilized in this case they were 2 to 3 years from bloom size when I got them and I have not had them 2 years yet....august will be 2 years.

The other plants I have get the very same fertilizer and are blooming,but they were blooming size when I recieved them.

[bullsie]

A Cattleya will bloom when its good and ready. And yes, generally three pseudobulbs are considered a nice viable sized plant - best capacity to live. As for flowering. That depends on the parentage, care, etc.

I've owned plants that bloomed regularly as youngsters and the size of the plant continued to increase (not talking pseudobulbs but actual plant) till mature. I've gotten seedlings that were 3 -4 years to blooming and bloomed within a year. And others that took 5 years to bloom.

Check the parentage of your plant. Its vigor. Your growing conditions. May help you better with understanding your plants blooming schedule.