Dead bud on flower spike

[Rross]

Hi.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a flower spike forming on my cattleya Mayor of Yamasaki Gem. One healthy bud and then a shrivelled up thing emerged from the sheath. Was I supposed to do an episiotomy on the sheath as the first bud was emerging? Much as I’m excited about my very first cattleya flower, I’m also concerned that I might have been able to save that second one. Could someone please tell me what you’re supposed to do. I’ll attach a photo of how it looks now.

[SouthPark]

Rross. The remaining bud looks good. That one is expected to be a green light ----- no problem. Sometimes, when there are 2 or more buds, and for some reason the orchid doesn't have adequate energy or supplies or something to support both buds, then one can/may shrivel up. It can happen. So don't worry about it. Just allow the orchid to keep growing and developing, and that remaining/surviving bud is expected to be ok and open up soon.

[Ray]

Unless the plant has been exposed to something that caused the second bud to abort development, I vote with Southpark’s assessment that the plant simply doesn’t have the resources. (READ THIS)

[Rross]

Thank you all for your reassurance.