Leaf or Sheath on Laeliocatanthe?

[c123anderson]

Originally Posted by Roberta

just to try your patience more... there are some Catts that develop a sheath that then just sits there for months. L. (C.) tenebrosa and purpurate do that. Sheaths can develop in December or January... and not even think of actually blooming until June or July.

🤔

So what all this has done is inspire me to keep more of a journal on: the plant, its culture, its care, events, etc.

What I have started with was some information I had gathered for a friend when I gave her a keiki I had potted up and established. It was eye opening to see the Dendrobium hybrid I had given her and its care, which I couldn’t really find a culture sheet for it. That gave me a lot more inspiration to keep more of a journal about the plants and know more about each one.

Thanks again, all, for the advice and inspiration!

[Jmoney]

are there leafed bulbs on this division? 1 or 2 leaves?

[c123anderson]

Originally Posted by Jmoney

are there leafed bulbs on this division? 1 or 2 leaves?

It's a new growth. I received the cutting in March and this growth has developed and grown about 5-6" since then.

I've attached an image of the growth. This is new growth since I received and potted it in March. I have edited the image to focus on the growth and adjust the angle slightly, since it's growing outward and not quite upward.

[Roberta]

Just out of curiosity, what's the grex name? From the name of the plant, one can look up the "pedigree". If it is a complex hybrid then probably limited as to what one can guess from knowing its heritage. But if it not too far from the component species, it's sometimes possible to get some insights.

[c123anderson]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Just out of curiosity, what's the grex name? From the name of the plant, one can look up the "pedigree". If it is a complex hybrid then probably limited as to what one can guess from knowing its heritage. But if it not too far from the component species, it's sometimes possible to get some insights.

This is a Laeliocatanthe Elizabeth Grace. According to orchidroots: Laeliocatanthe Elizabeth Grace, the parents are Cattlianthe Gold Digger and Laelianthe Meadow Gold.

[Roberta]

Odds are that it has a lot of bifoliate characteristics... it is half Gur. aurantiaca. It's also 1/4 L. anceps (which is unifoliate), the rest is a complex mixture. You likely will get some unifoliate growths but with that much Gur. aurantiaca (coming from both parents) bifoliate will probably dominate. So with that information, I would put my money on that mystery structure being a second leaf rather than a sheath. Also suspecting that these two "dominant" parents would influence bloom time, late winter or early spring (February to April timeframe) would be my estimate for blooming. Now, I'm not much of gambler... my maximum bet is 5 cents (a nickel) ... and I tend to not pay up when I lose . but keep us posted!

[c123anderson]

That’s what I thought, too, after reflection: likely a leaf.

I’ll still take it, though, as a win. After all, that growth in that last picture is all since it was cut from the main plant; delivered to a new grow area, and repotted. It’s got a new amount of growth I wouldn’t have expected from a plant going through any that so soon, so I am believing it’s happy and will continue to grow.

Still worthy of a happy dance!

[Roberta]

I think odds of flowers next spring are very good. That's a healthy looking growth.