Cattleyas, do all sheaths produce flowers?

[headbanger333]

Hello all kid aficionados,
Several of my adult Cattleyas have produced sheaths but I cannot see any sign of a flower growing inside them. They appear to be empty. Does the flower later gradually develop inside after the sheath has grown? Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Headbanger333

[Debra]

Yes. The buds will develop later inside the sheaths, most of the time anyway. There are some varieties that will send out buds even after the sheaths have dried and turned brown. Unfortunately, a sheath doesn't guarantee a bloom in all cases. Wish I knew the why behind THAT. I just try to be extra vigilante on the watering when I start to see sheaths develop, and keep my fingers crossed. I also try not to move the plant until the first bud has fully opened. May be superstition, but it works best for me.

[Fairorchids]

It is fairly common for large (NBS) seedlings to do a 'dry run'. Thus, the first sheath can be a dud. Thereafter they become more reliable.

[headbanger333]

Thanks Debra and Fair orchids, I had a feeling that there may b occasional dud sheaths on occasions, hopefully not many! Cheers, Headbanger333

[berthabloom]

Sometimes even the sheaths that you think won't produce, will. I have a Catt that normally flowers in Sept. This year it put out 3 nice sheaths. I waited and waited. The sheaths turned brown and I figured this year was a bust. But when finally resorting to repotting in Jan., I decided to look inside the sheaths, just to do a sort of plant necropsy and maybe learn something. I sliced them open and lo' and behold, there were undeveloped buds inside each one. One month later, I had a blooming Catt. Lesson learned: never give up flower hope. Sometimes I guess they just need a little help in the birthing process. Haha.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I also have routinely sheath-producing Cattleyas that will sometimes start budding without making a sheath.

So, sheaths without buds, or buds without a sheath, are both possible on plants that normally produce sheaths.

[headbanger333]

Thanks Berthabloom, this info is all priceless to a novice! Many thanks, hope will spring eternal. Cheers, Headbanger333

[Leafmite]

It looks like this question was answered very well. I hope you will soon get flowers, whether with this sheath or next!

[headbanger333]

Thanks Leafmite, I feel as though I can manage my Catts with more optimism and confidence now! Cheers, Headbanger333

[No-Pro-mwa]

I have one that has never bloomed for me before has had several sheaths, is more of a standard so I think these take a bit longer to bloom. I also at times under water so my bad I'm sure. The last growth developed had a sheath I was waiting to see if it would start buds when the 2 year and older back growths decided to start buds.

It skipped the second to last one and the older 3rd and 4th growths are going to bloom. Then finally came the newest growth so I will have 3 of them blooming. I have already asked if anyone else has ever had this happen and so far the answer is no.

Will these strange plants ever stop surprising us?