Question
Hi, I bought 2 Cattleya with the spikes a month ago.  I put them in my south window and water them once a week and fertilize them every other week, they look healthy but the spikes seems growing very slowly and there is no bud showing yet. I experienced that my Cattleya was not growing for a year and I gave up last year. This time I bought these two and hope they will grow better.  I live in East coast Pennsylvania, and I hope you can help my orchids.

Answer
Hello WAI,

Depending upon where and how you are growing your Cattleya orchids can influence whether they will bloom for you.  Living in Pennsylvania and it being almost winter, are they in a place where they can receive as much sunlight as possible?  Is the temperature kept above 60F, humidity above 50% plus some air movement around them?  Cattleya need these elements present in order to grow and bloom.  

As for spikes and flowers, many cattleya orchids will grow a sheath (looks like a thin leaf) from the top of the growth or pseudobulb.  Are these present on yours?  The spike will grow within the sheath and slowly break through the top of the sheath, continue to grow taller until the buds open.  If sheaths are present, with a bright light behind the sheaths you may see the shadow of the spike and buds inside.  Be patient as some cattleyas are notoriously slow growers while in sheath, taking months from sheath formation to final blooming.  With some cattleyas, the sheath will turn brown and appear dead but several months later surprise you with flowers.  Do NOT manually open or remove the sheath as you may damage the spike growth inside.  

Lastly, go easy on the watering during winter.  Wait until the potting media becomes almost dry before watering again.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.