Catasetum with yellowing leaf (while blooming)

[katrina]

The yellowed leaf is nothing to be worried about and the dried up buds...well, it's just something that happens once in awhile but it's nothing to be concerned about either.

Your plant looks really good. Just be sure, I know I'm repeating myself, but be sure you're watering it enough and "feeding" fairly heavy. Also, bright light. This group grows so fast over such a short period of time and then they go dormant so you want them as big and strong as possible. I use slow release granular (Dynamite) in the pot AND they get hit w/the liquid when I'm fertilizing everything else. Mine are all outside so Mother Nature does a good job of flushing w/rain regularly so I never worry about salt build up w/these.

The flowers on your Doris are gorgeous...just be warned, Ctsm are extremely addictive. Most people can NOT stop at just one.

[jenilee]

So I just pulled off the two dried up flowers and in touching the spike realized it is sticky!! Like REALLY STICKY!!
Why?

[katrina]

I don't know the technical term for it but it's a natural honeydew being secreted by the plant. Many orchids will secrete this from spikes and buds...and some from the leaves. As long as you aren't seeing any evidence of insects...don't worry.

While on the subject...as a general rule...many Ctsm can and do secrete a lot of the "sap" from the undersides of the leaves and I have found it's best to try and wash this off using some tepid water (sometimes even using a slightly soapy paper towel and then rinsing). If the plant is heavy with it and it doesn't get washed off it can result in a mildew sort of build up. It's not really going to hurt the orchid (per se) but it is very unsightly. Ctsm are very "sappy" plants.