Guarianthe bowringiana var. coerulea

[ogus]

My Cat. bowringiana var. coerulea is growing like a weed in it's height.. the tallest stem is about 3 feet tall.. taller than many of my dens. I have about 5 stems growing. The last time it bloomed, I had about 20 flowers from it, but that was my first bloom since I got the plant. Now that all the flowers are gone, the flower spike is drying up.. but the double sheaths that produced the spike is still very much fresh. I have cut the flower spike right above the sheath but it started to darken it's color into the sheaths without having the sheaths wilting with it. Should I cut the sheaths or wait until the remaining spike dries up inside the sheaths?

This is one of my few species plant and I am in love with it

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I generally cut the whole thing about an inch up from the leaf with a sterilized scissors. Looks kind of neat with a slight tilt like the tilt of the leaf below.

[jerrymeola]

The sheath will eventually dry and fall off or you can cut it now. It makes no difference to the plant so chose whatever looks best for you.

As you are learning bowringiana is one of the easiest species to grow. It can actually take re-potting more often than most to accommodate the fast growth. It will make a great specimen plant.

[kmarch]

I almost forgot, this species, Cattleya bowringiana has been placed in a different genus. It is no longer a Cattleya, but a Guarianthe. the species name remains the same so the current correct name is: Guarianthe bowringiana.

[Leisurely]

Does anyone know where to find all of these name changes? I am getting totally confused. I am finding all of these unrecognizable names when I look something up on RHS.