Alas, rather than a spike (also called "stem" or "stalk"), what you see is a new pseudobulb growing. But don't be too disappointed. New pseudobulbs are where you will ultimately get those flowers from. Once a pseudobulb blooms, it will not do so again, so new growth is what you want to see. Many cattelya are coming out of their dormant period, and thus are putting out new growth.

I would need to know your growing conditions, including but not limited to: growing medium, pot type/size, and light, to help you with growing tips.

Cattleya are what I feel in love with almost four decades ago, and though I now grow other genera, cattleya are by far the most plants I have (several hundred).

Oh Elaine, that's beautiful!
So then... Okay, on top of the pseudobulb... So,what is it that I have here???
I'm not expecting

Sorry Ken...Cross posted...
Be right back....

No flowers coming...yet...but good to know it's growing!
Ok...So this guy is in a 4" plastic pot. In a fir bark medium. It sits on a SSW window sill.

Tara- as the others said its a new bulb growing, when it gets big the flowers will come from the top of it between the leaves. I think next time you repot it use smaller size bark .

Thanks Bree! Smaller size bark? I don't think that I've seen different sizes of bark...This one that I got was from a big box store Just labeled as Orchid Bark...Western Fir Bark... @drdawg ... Do you have different sizes/grades of bark?

Tara, I use fine, medium, and coarse Douglas fir bark. I also use two grades of horticultural charcoal. There are three grades of perlite and two grades of chopped coconut fiber.

Yeah graded orchid bark is hard to just buy in the normal shops. Your local orchid society (if you have one) may get it in for you or online. I buy mine from ebay actually and it come in different mm's 6-8, 8-12, 12-15mm. Small seedlings need the small stuff and most other orchids the meduim, i only put the really really big plants in large as you'll just need to water it to much esp. in summer. I'd rather pot in smaller bark with more perlite for drainage than bark to big.
Just when i thought the flowers on this were had it i noticed a couple more buds just splitting open. Its been inside and i didnt even notice before now. hehe!

Lovely, Bree, and your picture shows Tara where the flower stems pop up from, too.

It is very lovely, and I now know exactly what to be looking for...Boy, I am a newbie at these! Live and learn! And it's good to know I'm expecting!
Just not a flower! Yet!
All!
And Ken, I'll be in touch!

Am waiting for these ones to show..

Zygopetalum


Wils Hilda Plumtree 'Purple Wings'


Noid Phal, on its 4th year in my care..woohoo ..still alive and still kicking it, bloom show has started, waiting for the rest of them

This is what was my NOID Phalaenopsis (which I now know is Phal. Baldan's Kaleidoscope) looks like now. I took the pictures at 8:00 AM today. There are four fully opened flowers and thirteen buds on three stems, with more buds forming every few days. This was my first time to see this plant bloom.



Now the rest of the story. A lady who had purchased an orchid for her mother last summer (it has now re-bloomed for her mom!) came by the house this morning and told me she thought that she would try her hand with an orchid again. She said she had managed to "kill" all previous ones. Before I could even get her out to the "Orchid" greenhouse, she immediately saw this plant on my porch. My beautiful, first-time bloomer is now blooming for her!

I have to keep reminding myself: "It is only a plant - this is now a business!"

I feel your pain. I don't think I could have done it.

Jim

Oh my! Now this is gorgeous!! Fully open it is truly lovely!! Nice pattern!

Looking good, Tarev!

Thanks Ursula!

Aww..that Phal is truly lovely Ken..I have that one too...its blooms lasted quite a long while indoors ..about 6 months (Oct 2012 to April 2013)..love that one a whole lot.. though right now it is on rest mode doing new leaves.

It's a business, Jim, its' a business - I keep saying that though I will surely miss those months of blooms. Oh well, on to other orchids.

Today was watering day. Half of my orchids, and other tropical plants, are under the oaks/cedars and half in greenhouses/porch. It takes a while, even with a hose-end sprayer to water well over 500 plants. I have started putting a few of my tomato, bell pepper, and plumeria in the ground. I sure wish my garlic would hurry up so I can harvest it. I need my raised garden for other vegetables but the garlic takes up most of the garden.

Waiting for Maxillaria tenuifolia

Nice bud!

And a great flower to come! We're as excited as you are, Tarev.

Jim

Thanks!

Found a big cluster of buds on my Blc. Star Parade 'Volcano Queen' as I was poking around with the camera. My Enc. tampensis from Jim also has at least 4 flower stems with tons of buds. I'll be able to find it by the scent soon! I didn't take a picture of it as the stems are so thin and buds so small they are nearly impossible to photograph, since the plant is up in my oak tree. Will get the ladder out when the blooms open and make an effort.