cattleya sheaths

[Carl]

Hello everyone!
I have a few catts that have a sheath, but they do not look like they have buds in them--they are very thin. Will they eventually develop the buds? I have an aurantiaca that bloomed--saw the buds in the sheath. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[orchidsamore]

It is common for Cattleya to develop sheaths months before they develop buds in the same sheat.

Occasionally they will develop sheaths that never develop buds. Especially with young plants that do not have the strength to fully flower.

I have several very large Cats that bloom on one sheath before developing buds in other sheaths.

It just makes it all the much nicer when they finally bloom.

[Junebug]

Some, but not all, Cattleyas produce sheaths which remain flat and eventually dry up... then several months later the dried sheaths produce healthy buds and blooms.

[lostonthebeach]

I agree with all of the above advice.
I guess what we are trying to say is don't give up on the sheaths until a month or so after they have fallen off the plant.