What is this growth on my B. nodosa?

[StephaneL]

My Brassavola nodosa is spiking. One of the spikes is accompanied by a small growth that looks like another leaf growing inside of the leaf. Has one of you seen that before? Do you know what it is?

[Roberta]

That spike looks like something might have nibbled it. But this time of year, there should be plenty more.

[StephaneL]

Thank you Roberta for the quick reply!

I am not actually worried about the spike. It is on time to bloom in July like it did last year. I know you grow many of your orchids outside, while I grow mine inside, so maybe yours bloom earlier. I've added a picture with a better point of view on the end of the spike which looks normal to me.

I am just curious about the growth indicated with an arrow. It is coming from inside the leaf like a sheath would, but I have never seen a sheath on my B. nodosa and the leaf already has another spike.

[Roberta]

It just looks to me like an extra leaf. Mine aren't quite in bloom yet - lots of spikes. Actually, this species I grow the greenhouse thorough the colder months. I grew it outside for years, and got a few flowers, slow growth. So it survived but didn't really thrive. Once I started putting it in the GH in late October or early November, it grew like crazy, So now I wait to put it outside until a few weeks ago - spikes developing, nights staying above about 60 deg F. It will keep popping out new spikes until well into October.

[StephaneL]

Thank you again!

I keep mine in front of the sunniest window in my apartment, an unobstructed southwest window. It blooms in two waves every year, around July and November. It is slowly getting bigger. This time I think I will get 10 flowers on 3 spikes.

[Oyarzabal]

Probably there is some cross somewhere along the line with anther orchid species and that a crude attempt to a flower sheath.