Need help identifying healthy flower spike on Catasetum

[desirue]

I went to my local orchid show today. I ended up getting the After Dark catasetum. They said it would bloom in around 30 days. My question is however, the flower spike (I’m assuming?) looks ‘dried up’ to me. It’s got what seems to be flaking on the ends. Is that normal? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!!

[desirue]

It turned out to be pest damage; it is infested with snails and aphids and had black rot on 2 of the 4 bulbs unfortunately. I do not have this orchid any longer sadly.

[Roberta]

I wonder if the damage really was bad enough to get rid of the plant... Catasetinae go dormant this time of year, and next spring "reinvent" themselves with new growth and new roots. Loss of an incipient spike is certainly not reason to euthanize a plant! Even an infestation is curable - again, the drying out will kill a lot of the bugs.

[desirue]

I did not throw it away; the organizer of the event has it in her care currently.

[Roberta]

OK. Good. With a bit of care, the plant should make a full recovery. That's a great thing about Catasetinae, they go through a "reincarnation" every year.