Cattleya question

[Rocinante]

This is the first Cattleya I've ever owned and I'm not sure how they look when they grow. So I must ask you this possibly dumb question - Is this what is referred to as "in sheath"?

[patticake]

Hi John! I haven't gotten any that far, yet! I have some close.... Keep us posted so I know what's going on! I have a few almost to that point, so I sure hope so!

[solay]

I think that's what it is. Most of the leaves I have just has a nub and no growth in the middle. So yours look like a start of a sheath. Once again, I may be wrong. The experts will have to confirm this. Good growing anyway!!!

[jay]

It is a little hard to tell for sure. But I am going to take a guess anyway. I think it is going to skip the whole sheath process and that look like it could be the beginning of a spike. Keep in mind this is a guess that will be confirmed or denied in time as it continues to grow. It just doesn't look like a new leave or a sheath to me.

Good luck, hopefully someone with more Catt experience will have a better idea.

[Rocinante]

It doesn't look like a leaf, that's why I ask. I'll keep you posted with a sort of time-lapse photography...

[patticake]

Oh boy! Thanks John! I'm looking forward to it!

[Ellen]

Some cattleya types form a sheath and others just put up buds directly. It looks like yours is the latter type. However, the picture is a little fuzzy so it's possible that it could be a second leaf. Have you been giving it bribes trying to get it to bloom?

[jerrymeola]

You already have 4 pseudobulbs with only one leaf so it is not reasonable to expect a second leaf will form on this pseudobulb.

However, even though this is the start of a flower it may not develop completely. Young Cattleya often abort their first flowers. There is nothing you can do one way or the other. Just hope for the best.

[Ellen]

I don't think it's a second leaf, but some unifoliate-bifoliate hybrids will develop a second leaf occasionally.

[exasperatus2002]

Heres some pics of my Guaranthe (formerly Cattleya) aurantiaca emerging from sheath.

[kmarch]

"In sheath" is essentially the same as saying "in spike" but for Cattleya Alliance orchids. But there is a point of confusion, while many Catts do have sheaths, small-ish "envelopes" of tissue that protect the developing buds, some do not, and still others have sheaths that are quite small to the point where by the time the leaf is opening, the buds are already out of the sheath.

Your cattleya looks to be the latter. It looks like there is a small sheath in there but it also looks like the buds are already coming out. You could probably say your catt is "in sheath" - though the buds appear to be out fo the sheath already - or you could say your cattleya is "in spike."

Either way, it looks ot me like you have flowers in your future. Enjoy!

[kid a]

Gasp! I just realized I have a sheath that looks exactly the sheath in your pics exaspertus. I thought this one was a new leaf because there is another sheath, not shaped the same, but it is empty inside.

[JLu]

It will possibly stay empty and turn brown. Some Catts bloom from green sheaths and some from dried sheaths. If it dries, don't bother it and it will bloom next spring.

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by kid a

Gasp! I just realized I have a sheath that looks exactly the sheath in your pics exaspertus. I thought this one was a new leaf because there is another sheath, not shaped the same, but it is empty inside.

This particular Catt. has sheaths all the time but only one blooms per year. My other Catt. thats flowered previously only had a sheath when it was going to bloom. heres another photo.

[Kauaiguy]

I assume that a sheath is the beginning of a bud that's coming out of the leaf which produces the blooms. But yours looks too thick to be just a leaf forming. Here are a couple of pix for reviews. The first one looks like just a leaf coming out, too thin to be a bud. The other two are self explanatory.





BTW: 640 x 480 pixels seems to be a good size for pictures to be posted here. Doesn't take up the whole screen.

[kmarch]

The sheath is that envelope of thin leafy tissue (but not a leaf) that protects the buds.

[Lanie]

In a couple of weeks, you'll likely get your first Cat. flower too! Congrat, Rocinante
From the little tag, it says your Cat. is an 'AM' award, that's the 2nd highest award for orchids, be sure to post a pic when it blooms.

[Jerry Delaney]

Rocinante,
I believe congrats are in order. The plant you have is LC Angel Heart, a very nice pink to light lavender. What you are seeing is the beginning of an inflorescence. It is not that unusual for some Catts to bloom sans a "real sheath". The background of C. Penny Kuroda in the background of this plant makes this even more likely. As some have pointed out, first bloom plants can often abort their flowers, but so long as the fluorescence and soon to be buds don't turn yellow, you will soon have flowers.

[Rocinante]

Here's an update- it looks like just a second leaf forming. Jerry called it. At least it's growing.

[patticake]

I have some Catts that have single leaved and double leaved pb's on one plant. If it starts growing something elsefrom there, then I would say "bingo"! Let's hope you see something else soon...

[digitalgate]

look on bright side. It is growing! healthy plant lead to healthy bloom.

[Don1]

John,
Some cattleyas do not actually have a sheath. The sheath protects the flowers until they are ready to actually unfold. It is hard to tell from you photo but it looks like the start of a sheath coming on the one pseudobulb. If it is, then the sheath will develop around the flowers until they are ready to push through it and bloom.

[hera]

While we're on the subject of Catts, is there a site that will explain the new names for the old Cattleyas. I have seen so many new names that I'm not sure if its a Catt or something else altogether. My books have older info in them. Does anyone have a magic website?