What are my Cattleyas doing?

[butterfly_muse]

Afternoon, everyone! Sorry to be bombarding you with so many questions today...I've been away on a work assignment for the last 2 months and haven't been able to do hardly anything! So I'm utilizing this week to catch up on life stuff before heading back to work.

Anyway, I picked up an Lc. Fire Dance 'Patricia' today and while I was watering him I noticed that he had what I think must have been a spike or a growth that maybe died? Inbetween two of the leaves? I am new to Cattleays, so I'm not sure and I want to make sure. What should I do with it? Cut it? Leave it alone? Will it not grow anymore? (first picture)

I also have an Eplc. Golden Sunburst that has a brown sheath looking thing coming through two of its sets of leaves. They started out green and then turned this brown color (the last 2 pics)...is this normal? Is this just how Cattleyas grow? Is this new leaves or something else? Will it go away?

Sorry to ask so many questions, I am still brand new to Cattleyas. Thanks, all!

[Leafmite]

That is from a previous bloom which means your cattleya is definitely blooming size.

---------- Post added at 05:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 PM ----------

The other is perfectly fine and it is normal for that outer layer to turn brown. Soon it will dry up and become papery and you can very, very carefully peel it off (so as not to break off the new growth or an 'eye'--future new growth.).

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

That is from a previous bloom which means your cattleya is definitely blooming size.

---------- Post added at 05:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 PM ----------

The other is perfectly fine and it is normal for that outer layer to turn brown. Soon it will dry up and become papery and you can very, very carefully peel it off (so as not to break off the new growth or an 'eye'--future new growth.).

How would I go about peeling it off, it looks like it's inbetween the other leaves? Will it just get taller before I can do that? This specific cattleya has gone CRAZY since I brought it home, it's throwing out new growths off the side and putting out new roots and doing this weird thing I asked about, lol. It seems to be very happy in the bathroom. xD

[Leafmite]

When it is dry, thin, and papery, it is very easy to peel off. Tweezers can be helpful to get the part in between the growths. I usually wait until the growth is mature (but you don't have to). This is part of the process of making your cattleya look nice for a show (which mine have successfully avoided so far...) or just to display at the OS meetings. One of my cattleyas grows very compactly and I haven't bothered to try to get them.
Two pointers with cattleyas:
When repotting, plant on top of the media and stake or clip securely.
Make certain they get calcium, either through the tap water or fertilizer.
I had to learn this the hard way in an episode I refer to as The Black Plague (black rot). Otherwise, they are easy to grow and very rewarding. I buy the tiny seedlings, six years to blooming and just love watching them grow.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

When it is dry, thin, and papery, it is very easy to peel off. Tweezers can be helpful to get the part in between the growths. I usually wait until the growth is mature (but you don't have to). This is part of the process of making your cattleya look nice for a show (which mine have successfully avoided so far...) or just to display at the OS meetings. One of my cattleyas grows very compactly and I haven't bothered to try to get them.
Two pointers with cattleyas:
When repotting, plant on top of the media and stake or clip securely.
Make certain they get calcium, either through the tap water or fertilizer.
I had to learn this the hard way in an episode I refer to as The Black Plague (black rot). Otherwise, they are easy to grow and very rewarding. I buy the tiny seedlings, six years to blooming and just love watching them grow.

Calcium, interesting. How do I provide that, do I have to do a specific fertilizer? I have an orchid one, it's 20-10-10 because all of my guys are planted in bark. Should I water the cattleyas with something different?

I also have a question re: a Blc. Taeko Tamaki..I got it and it had pretty shriveled looking pbulbs, which I attributed to it being extremely dry when it came home with me. Since then, it has stayed like that even when I soak them (in contrast, my Eplc. Golden Sunburst's pbulbs get less shriveled when I soak them). Is this normal? Are they supposed to do that? Is there something I can do? They're firm to the touch, not mushy or yucky feeling. It has one young pbulb stalk thing (Idk what they're called =\) that is smooth and firm...And this plant has always been darker than my other ones. I have attached a couple pics.

Sorry to ask so many questions!

Edit: I should clarify that I don't soak the pbulbs, I soak the medium in a bowl for about 20 minutes about once a week.

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

I also have an Eplc. Golden Sunburst that has a brown sheath looking thing coming through two of its sets of leaves. They started out green and then turned this brown color (the last 2 pics)...is this normal? Is this just how Cattleyas grow? Is this new leaves or something else? Will it go away?

Sorry to ask so many questions, I am still brand new to Cattleyas. Thanks, all!

The part that has turned brown is a flower sheath and is quite normal for it to turn brown. If that is the newest growth do not remove it. It is protecting where the flower buds develope from. But once it is completely brown you can tare about half way down to help keep any fungus fron forming. But if it is not on one of the newest growths it can be removed. Usually they will not bloom frm growths more than a year old.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by trdyl

The part that has turned brown is a flower sheath and is quite normal for it to turn brown. If that is the newest growth do not remove it. It is protecting where the flower buds develope from. But once it is completely brown you can tare about half way down to help keep any fungus fron forming. But if it is not on one of the newest growths it can be removed. Usually they will not bloom frm growths more than a year old.

I will leave it alone. I don't know how old this plant is, I have only had it a couple months. I would be beyond excited if it was flowers. None of my 'chids have bloomed for me yet, so I'd practically die if one of them did!

[Leafmite]

If you use tap water, you are likely fine. I was using distilled/rain water (we have softened water). I actually do something goofy that has worked for other plants and that I have been doing for the past eighteen months...I add a little powdered milk each time I water.
The shrivelled bulbs usually stay that way (though sometimes they don't) but will support the new growth just fine. Cattleyas are tough. If the leaves are dark green, it may need (gradually introduced to) more light. Some cattleyas need more light than others.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

If you use tap water, you are likely fine. I was using distilled/rain water (we have softened water). I actually do something goofy that has worked for other plants and that I have been doing for the past eighteen months...I add a little powdered milk each time I water.
The shrivelled bulbs usually stay that way (though sometimes they don't) but will support the new growth just fine. Cattleyas are tough. If the leaves are dark green, it may need (gradually introduced to) more light. Some cattleyas need more light than others.

Interesting. I have powdered milk. I have a filter on my tap but I don't know if it filters out only the chlorine or if it cleans everything. Maybe I should add some.

That cattleya has been in the same window as my Golden Sunburst for the last month or so, and it hasn't lightened up. That said, its new growth is nice and bright green, as is its new leaf. Should I just leave it?

[Leafmite]

If the new growth is light green, it is likely fine where it is. Somewhere on the net, there is a site that shows the proper color of most orchid leaves with too little or too much light. Then there are those that don't fit that category (one of my catts has very light green leaves and, for it, this is normal.
Others get purple spots or coloring).
I think you are fine with calcium, then. Most people are. If you add powdered milk, just a tiny pinch is plenty.