What triggers catts' blooming?

[rbarata]

Is it light? Temp drop? Or both? Simultaneously?

Thank you

[tucker85]

The photoperiod, which is the number of hours of light in the day, is the primary mechanism that triggers blooming in cattleyas. Temperature doesn't have much to do with blooming in most catts.. Winter blooming cattleyas require long nights of darkness and some can be kept from blooming by having an artificial light on them for a few hours during the night. Spring and fall bloomers are the ones that are most likely to bloom twice a year because the photoperiod is the same in the fall and the spring. But some modern hybrids have lost the triggering mechanism in their DNA and can bloom any time of year. I grow all my cattleyas outdoors and I'm always amazed that they often bloom within a week or two of the same date every year, no matter what the temperature is.

[Ray]

I agree with the photoperiod response, but the next question becomes: is it the shortened days that are the triggering factor, or the return of longer days when they've passed?

[rbarata]

Well, it depends on its blooming season...and I don't know which is for my catt. I bought it three weeks ago, with a spike that never opened but as we know, it may have been artificially induced by the grower.

[AndreaK]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Is it light? Temp drop? Or both? Simultaneously?

Thank you

I have the same question. My very large, NOID Catt. was divided into 4 large plants (spring 2014). Three are grown under the same light, same south facing window, are fed the same, etc... Two have buds in sheath, the third (located in the middle of the light set-up) just has blind sheaths. Three sheaths, out of 21 in total (for all 4 plants) have buds, all the rest are blind. I would think that since they are actually the same plant, are grown exactly the same, that the triggers for them should have been the same as well. Any suggestions on improving bud formation? The
4th plant was grown outside until it became too cold for it to remain there. It also has blind sheaths. It did produce 2 double sheaths, but zero buds thus far.

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by AndreaK

I have the same question. My very large, NOID Catt. was divided into 4 large plants (spring 2014). Three are grown under the same light, same south facing window, are fed the same, etc... Two have buds in sheath, the third (located in the middle of the light set-up) just has blind sheaths. Three sheaths, out of 21 in total (for all 4 plants) have buds, all the rest are blind. I would think that since they are actually the same plant, are grown exactly the same, that the triggers for them should have been the same as well. Any suggestions on improving bud formation? The
4th plant was grown outside until it became too cold for it to remain there. It also has blind sheaths. It did produce 2 double sheaths, but zero buds thus far.

There can be some variation when comes to the timing of bud formation and blooms. I have some cattleyas that will have three or four sheaths on one plant and only form buds in one sheath. A few weeks later it will form buds in another sheath, an so on. I would expect that the other divisions of your plant will form buds soon but, of course, nature is in charge and you never know what might happen.

[NeofinetiaCanada2014]

I think depending on the species background of this NOID will determine bud formation. Some are triggered by night length (fall bloomers), day length (summer bloomers) and temperature (during resting like some laelias). Or a combination of everything... Or none of the above especially complex hybrids. In my experience, only growing the plant 2-3 years will give you an idea of what's the best condition and triggers. Good luck with the other sheaths!


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