Herniated buds

[Louis_W]

Ok so i know that stuff like this happens and its no big deal, but ive been noticing a pattern lately.

I have quite a few bifoliate cattleya species and primary hybrids. This year almost every single one (4 plant in a row so far) has had one or two buds with an exposed (herniated) patch like these. Generally its many flowers and somewhere in the middle is an affected bud.

The flowers turn out normally and i usually cant tell once they open, but im just curious if anyone knows what causes this? Heat during development?

[Johndeaux22]

From the picture it looks like the end of the bud could be “glued” together by the drops of “nectar” at the ends. You might try gently cleaning with pure water on a cotton swab, or gently rinsing with the same. I see from your signature that you’re in ABQ, low humidity will likely exacerbate this issue - I sometimes run into similar troubles in the Reno/Sparks NV area.

[Louis_W]

There is a lot of happy sap but the flowers are not having trouble opening. The ones in the photos are not trying to open quite yet. The buds grow this way from an early stage. They have a gap in the sepals and you can see through to the petals. They open normally and look more or less normal when they expand

yes im in Albuquerque and the summer temps are very high, light is intense, and humidity is very low. The plants arent complaining. The dont seem to mind it.

[Ray]

the summer temps are very high, light is intense, and humidity is very low. The plants arent complaining. The dont seem to mind it.

I think they do mind it.