What is this on my Catt?

[leslieann79]

I dunno what this growth is? Sorry for the horrible phone picture. Its the green and red thing.

[kindrag23]

If it is the one closest to the front that is a new growth coming in. I think picture is a little fuzzy w my vision. Hurray a new baby is coming in so u are doing well!!

[leslieann79]

Thank you Kindrag.

[kindrag23]

Welcome.

[james mickelso]

I would take off the dried sheath material on the older pbulbs. It is a place for brown and black rot to start and can also hide scale, mealies, and bacteria. I use tweezers, start at the bottom and carefully strip it off.

[tucker85]

I agree, it's a new pseudobulb. That's how they grow, with new pseudo-bulbs developing off the rhizome. Almost like a vine.

[leslieann79]

Thank you James and Tucker! James I did not know that about the sheaths. Should I also pull them off of my dendrobiums as well? What purpose do the sheaths serve? Once they dry out one should always pull them off?

[tucker85]

The term often used for the dry dead material on the outside of the pseudo-bulb is 'sarong'. The plant has outgrown the original sarong. You can think of it like a snake shedding it's skin. The easiest way to remove it is to get it wet, wait a few minutes and the peel it off. The sarong won't hurt anything but insects love to hide underneath it. The sheath is the flat material growing out of the top of the pseudo-bulb. Buds are produced inside the sheaths so don't remove them even if they dry up and turn brown.

[leslieann79]

Ok that clears up a lot Tucker. Thanks. I'm familiar with most phalaenopsis terms but I have no idea what the stuff on catts and dens are called. I'm off to ask google.

[tucker85]

I don't grow dendrobiums so I don't know if removing the sarongs is recommended or not. But it's a good idea to remove them from cattleyas although I sometimes get lazy and don't get around to it for long time.