Another repotting ??

[Mysbhvn]

I was in the middle of repotting a couple of small catt's and thought I would pose this question to all of you experts.... Some of my catt's have this brown papery skin covering the bulbs. I'm wondering if I should remove this when repotting the orchid. I had one person tell me he thought it should be removed and I was wondering what the general consensus was on this board? I've included a pic to hopefully explain what I am talking about.....

[IMG][/IMG]

Thanks for your help.

[kavanaru]

I would not remove it... I think it protects the plants and gives it a certain touch

[jim blanford]

I would remove it , that is where a lot of bugs try to hide. Jim.

[CodiMN]

I would remove it too...sometimes too much moisture resides there. I've received a catt that had rot there that killed the plant 2 days after I got it! Needless to say I don't purchase from that person anymore...
I carefully peel mine off and then once the plant "sheds" it, then I don't feel like I have to "rip" it off and cause the plant (and me!) stress!

[CodiMN]

Forgot to mention...your catt looks happy! Thanks for sharing the !

[DebsC]

I agree with Jim, I'd remove it. No use giving critters any more places to hide than they already seem to find.

[kavanaru]

hhhmmm... I admit that's a point...

[Ross]

I never remove the skins as I have caused some damage in the past by prying them off. I think it's an esthetics issue, not a cultural issue. More bugs hide in the crevisses of the leaves than in these dead tissue areas. Just my opinion.

[quiltergal]

I don't take them off anymore either. All the ones I did peel off had nothing sinister lurking inside, but I grow indoors not outside or in a greenhouse. That might make a difference.