number of leaves on cattelya?

[Dub3]

I have several cattelya that came from Hawaii and most had or were in bud at the time of arrival.
All have bloomed and sent out new shoots and there is may question. All old bulbs had a single leaf with the old sheath and flower stem cut off, some with as many as 6-8 leaves and bulbs. now many of the new growths are sporting 2 leaves. is this normal? I know that they are leaves and not sheaths as they have opened as a leaf.

[NYCorchidman]

Nothing to worry about.

Cattleyas are roughly either unifoliate or bifoliate.
Sometimes, plants will make "wrong" number of leaves.
It is normal.

[Tim P.]

+1 for NYC. Some cattleyas will only grow one leaf per bulb until they get more mature also. It is perfectly natural. Your plant is just doing what its DNA is telling it to. I have a wittigiana that has one or two of the bulbs with bifoliate instead one leaf. Just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

[NYCorchidman]

One of my bifoliate makes two per growth usually, but sometimes it will make just one.

Just the way the cookies crumbles.

[Fairorchids]

And the occasional random 3 leaves.

[WhiteRabbit]

Hybrids especially can vary the amount of leaves on a growth - but some species also will vary.

[Dub3]

Thanks folks that is great news, I thought that I was doing something wrong. I have noticed that several of my cats have double breaks and some have sheaths on each break or should I say growth. Being an old poinsettia grower I have a lot to learn. I hope that means I'm doing something right.

[NYCorchidman]

Yep, as long as you don't see any dark marks on the leaves or pb, which are not common with good culture, you don't need to worry although I know it sounds easy to say.
As you go through just one (or maybe two) growth cycle with the plant, you will get to know your plant's habit better and be able to tell what's right and not so right.

Happy growing!!