I use 3 'tricks'.

1) Face the new growth away from the sun thus encouraging new growth from the slow side.

2) Once the plant is big enough, make an 'in house division'. With a razor blade cut the rhizome leaving 3 or 4 old back bulbs on the slow side which now have become a new plant and should in time initiate. Problem with that is that the 'new plant' faces in the same direction as the old plant and will initiate new growth heading in the same direction.

3) Let the plant hang way over the pot and then cut off one or two front leads of at least 3 or more pbulbs and place them strategically in the pot so that you now have new front leads heading in the direction you want.

I have a big SCK superbiens with about 30 bulbs where I must have done all of the above and now have a plant which is busting out equally in all directions. The center of the plant is a tangle of roots and rhizome so it's hard to tell who is who. But then who cares unless you want to get an AOS award in which case multiple plants in one pot are disqualified.

Nick

You could try an oblong pot. That won't get you a well rounded plant but should keep the wild one in the pot!

Here is a link that might be useful: Oblong clay pot

Thanks for the suggestions. I remember something about making a cut at the base of a pseudobulb (but maybe just a partial thickness one?)with a razor blade. Does that sound familiar to anyone?

I second the motion to cut- but "score" the rhizome, almost halfway through, don't cut all the way through.
I choose a spot back a ways from the new lead growth, between p'bulbs, and just in front of a healthy, vigorous looking "eye." You can score just once, or in multiple places. I would first try one score, and see if it yields the desired results; that is the score "inspires" the dormant "eye" to burst forth into growth! This is the same as cutting back nearly any plant. (All to do with hormone feedback, which we don't have to get into here -gosh where's my textbook?) and, if it makes you feel better, you can use cinnamon, or another anti-microbial, anti-fungal product to dust the wound. You can use a razor blade, but I admit, I've even used my husband's fine woodworking saws for extra tough plants.
Also, I've noticed that dormant eyes can be encouraged to grow by peeling back the dead covering on them if they have it - as on Catts. The increased light encourages growth.

Good luck and happy growing
Maryanne in WMass

Thanks Maryanne. Very helpful. I'll get out my razor blades and cinnamon!

Interesting thread.

Can anyone estimate for some common genra how long it usually takes to produce a specimen sized plant - for a frame of reference, from the time of the first bloom to the time when you could call it specimen sized?

Tyler