Catt sheaths drying up?

[matthewjohn]

On my Iwanagara Appleblossom the flower sheaths are begining to dry. Is this a normal occurance before they sent up there flower spike, or is the plant not going to flower. It is in a south facing window on a humidity tray and gets rather strong light through the morning and early afternoon hours.

[Aniko]

I'm new in catts, but as I know, is not at all unusual.If the plant is healthy, no problem, is going to bloom.
Aniko

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Many plants can bloom thru dry sheaths and this does happen often. So, can't say one way or the other, as to blooming prospects. Keep an eye on the sheath tho to make sure it is just drying up, and not rotting (wet look). If you see any wet quality, you might want to tease open the sheath at the end or cut the tip off to allow a little air inside to protect any developing buds.

[prisana]

I have a Catt that had dry sheath for 2 months, I couldn't wait any longer to see if anything is growing in there, so I snipped the top of the sheath and saw a spike!! My Bl. Yellow Bird was doing the same thing only I didn't have to cut it, I went outside one day and saw it has broken through the sheath..it's the seedling I saved from Wal Mart almost 2 months ago ...I'm so proud of it..

[Richard Butt]

As a Cat. flowers, the sheaths dry, but do they also get brown spots? Mine is doing that and I wonder about humidity(The Cat. pot rests on a tray with water in it.) promoting fungus growth on the dry sheaths. Otherwise, the plant seems quite healthy. Richard Butt

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Fungal growth on any tissue that a plant is shedding/drying is perfectly normal. Don't let it bother you.

[Pconch]

but what is going on if you have sheaths and no spikes? (and they are drying up) Am I just being impatient?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Sometimes the sheath is too small, and the plant really wasn't prepared to bloom, just sort of half way. This often happens if the plant is still adjusting to new surroundings or is too young and doesn't have the where with all to bloom yet. Some Catts produce a new growth and sheath, and then wait until they are just about ready to start their next new growth before producing buds, with some sheaths staying green the whole time and others drying. It is just a matter of the particular genetics of the hybrid, how much of which species are in its make up, what is dominant, and what kind of tug of war the diverse genetics is producing, recognizing that there is a double set of chromosomes. The Secret is to have several hundred orchid plants. Then this kind of thing won't bother you so much.

[matthewjohn]

Thank you for your response. I bought this plant back in September and it already have one sheath then produced two more. The sheaths look like they are just getting translucent not that green look anymore. It is rather old (many pseudobulbs) and it was the new growth that has the sheaths. I'll guess I will just play the waiting game and see. I do have others beginning to bloom. A very cute as my fiance called it phal Mini Mark 'Holm', and a phal aphrodite.

[daytriper]

I wake up, get a cup of coffee and read some of the responses on this forum---habit I guess---Smiling--here is a respnse from Cynthia--"The Secret is to have several hundred orchid plants. Then this kind of thing won't bother you so much." Thanks for the chuckle --dry humor is always best! and PS--she really has around 700
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