What causes empty sheaths?

[syndywindy]

I have 2 orchids with this problem. My LC. Coastal Splendor x Schom. undulata had a nice large sheath and all of a sudden it started turning brown and finally just shriveled up. My other C. Chocolate Drop 'Kodama' x Pot. Rubescense 'Sunset Valley Orchids' has a nice green sheath but it appears to be empty. Has anyone had this happen? And is there any hope of having buds form from these? I have others in sheath where you definitely can see the buds inside, so I'm kind of baffled. the plants are nice and healthy, good roots, etc. Any ideas or insight?

[FLBob]

I'm curious to read the reply's to this question.

Some of the answer may have something to do with the genetics of the plant. Some may have to do with culture.

On the genetics side of the equation; I have a C Chocolate Drop that goes through it's bloom cycle in the fall. The plant will grow new pseudobulbs through the spring and the summer, but will only bloom in the fall. Some of the sheaths may be green others brown.

On the culture side of things; If I supply too much nitrogen when feeding, I get very good growth and weak flower production. If I'm providing too little light, the plant grows but doesn't flower. Plants have seasonal triggers to begin flowering, if the trigger doesn't happen, then no flowers.

[Stelios]

I am very new to catleyas so take my advice with a grain of salt Synda...

To my understanding if the newest pseudobuld(S) develop(s) a sheath then when in season it will flower.
My hands on experience is the following.

One of my cats had huge sheaths but i badly sunburnt the plant. It lost 4 leaves and the 2 sheaths turn brown and paper-ish. I cut them half way and forced them so that they will stay a bit open on the upper side. I can now see some tiny bulbs developing and hopefully it will bloom in a few months.

All my other cats had empty sheaths. I used to check them every day opposite the sun and they stayed empty until today that on one of them i also saw developing buds.

So i trust that empty sheaths will bloom, dried sheaths will bloom so cut them half way. The problem seems to be the sheath-less new couple psedubulbs on my epicattleya Siam Jade that didn't got enough light to produce a sheath.

[11Orchid126]

Never give up on a sheath. Some sheaths bloom on regular green sheaths, others bloom on dried up, shrivelled up sheaths, and some plants bloom on no sheaths at all. Don't try to remove any of these dried sheaths or cut them or alter them whatsoever. They may surprise you a few months down the line. You'll look at them one day and see buds!
The Iwanagara Appleblossom has sheaths in August that sit dried up for months and do nothing until spring, and then they're glorious.

[syndywindy]

Thanks for all the info. I will sit back and see how things develop. I'd be so disappointed if I didn't get any blooms on these guys.

[NancyG]

that has happened to me a bunch of times. Some plants are still a mystery to me. Good thread.

[rcb]

Originally Posted by 11Orchid126

Never give up on a sheath. Some sheaths bloom on regular green sheaths, others bloom on dried up, shrivelled up sheaths, and some plants bloom on no sheaths at all. Don't try to remove any of these dried sheaths or cut them or alter them whatsoever. They may surprise you a few months down the line. You'll look at them one day and see buds!
The Iwanagara Appleblossom has sheaths in August that sit dried up for months and do nothing until spring, and then they're glorious.

completely agree, but to add to it. if a mature plant has had a sheath for over a year, without buds, then it probably is not going to develop buds.

Reason is simply the plant has not received what it needs to flower. Most commonly I think is enough light, but there are other factors as well. For example some in the Catt alliance need a drier winter in order to flower in the spring.

[syndywindy]

I don't think at least for me enough light has been the problem. they have been outside since May where they get early morning sun for a couple hours, filtered sunlight for the better part of the day and maybe another hour or so of sunlight late. Maybe as FLBob mentioned it's a genetic thing. they have exhibited good overall growth so I can only hope I'll see some buds. It's getting pretty close to having to bring them in due to the cooler weather, I'm envious of all of you in warmer climates that can leave yours out almost year round.

[kmarch]

I echo 11Orchid126's comments. I have had a cattleya that grew growth after growth with sheath after sheath for about 3 years, all of the sheaths were dried up and brown. I removed one ot see what was inside. The 4th year ALL of the old unbloomed sheaths, eventhough they were dried up and dead looking, ALL of them flowered!

In this case, light was not the problem. It was in the same place for all 4 years and for 3 of those it never flowered then all of a sudden....

There are many factors affecting flowering. Light is just one. Some of these factors we can control (light, temperature, other growing conditions), while others we can not (age of the plant, genetics, etc).

If the plant is growing and is healthy I'd just let it go for a while (like a couple of years) and be patient.