Will it still flower?

[Viia]

My Cattleya has grown a new pbulb to maturity and there's a thin green "sheath" at the top but nothing is maturing inside it. It's been like that about a month. It has now started to grow a new pbulb. As I understand it, the new pbulb is only supposed to start growing after flowering, so does this mean no flowers this year?

[nutgirl]

Originally Posted by Viia

As I understand it, the new pbulb is only supposed to start growing after flowering, so does this mean no flowers this year?

Not necessarily, I have a cattleya that did that. I waited for several months and then the spike formed and finally bloomed. Don't give up on it.

I don't know why they do that, someone who is up on cattleyas may have more information.

Maureen

[WhiteRabbit]

ditto what Maureen said - some will hold empty sheaths for quite some time before buds begin to develop

[nutgirl]

This thing drove me crazy but the wait was worth it. Two spikes with 5 buds each. A lovely display and great fragrance too.

I'm curious to see what it does next time.

Maureen

[Orchid126]

Some catts bloom on every new pseudobulb, others grow several pseudobulbs and then bloom at the same time. Some bloom on new sheaths, some bloom on old dry sheaths, some bloom on no sheaths at all, and often on the same plant. Some can hold their sheaths for months before finally blooming.

It does strain one's patience!

[trdyl]

Some Cattleyas bloom during a certain time of year while others bloom at various times of the year. Do you know the name of your Cattleya?

[Viia]

Phew ok so there's still hope! It's a brassolaeliocattleya (the one that's my avatar). It's a "Trick or Treat" x "Morning Glory" x something else from what I remember...

My other dialaeliocattleya is only now starting to grow a spike (but this one doesn't have a sheath like the other, just the spike starting to come out the center).

[johnblagg]

some can have a sheath that will even dry up and look dead but they are not. sometimes even holding off for the next bloom season to finish from these dry sheaths.....paitence

[jeffg]

I'm glad to have read this post, as I have several Catts that threw sheaths and now are just sitting there. One shriveled up, but I was told to leave him be. I guess looking at them everyday doesn't help the anxiety!

[trdyl]

With Bl now Bc Morning Glory in the parenage I could very well end up blooming at any time of the year. Paitence is the key to success.