cattleya sheaths aborting

[greg sytch]

Many of my mature catts have sheathed, but yet they aborted flowers. This is only recently. I live in Tampa Bay. We had an extremely wet summer, but yet it dried up come Sept. Any advice? Thanks Greg in New Port Richey

[rtsingleton]

Same thing happened to me with Iwanagara apple blossom...

[BikerDoc5968]

I have posted many notes addressing this very topic because I've had several catts grow empty sheaths. After they turn brown, I figure that's it and cut them off... now, much to my amazement, I have buds emerging from these old pseudobulbs! From these pics you can see a new bud in the yellow sheath yet nothing in the green sheath and these are all on the SAME plant!

[Don Perusse]

Yes, many cats will still develop buds/flowers from brown sheaths. Any sometimes a second sheath. (A sheath within a sheath). Wait until you are SURE before cutting off. For those that are truly blasted it could be changing location while in sheath, poor air circulation or sudden drop in temp. At least that has been my experience.

[cirillonb]

The browning sheaths has happened on 2 of my Cat. that were purchased with blossoms last year. I haven't done anything to them as a result. So you both are saying to leave the yellowed sheath on and hope that a real sheath will follow.
What I did do in both cases, is put them in the highest light I have. Other cats. have bloomed in this place.
Nick

[Don Perusse]

Yes Nick, leave it be for awhile to see what develops. I have slit open the very top of the sheath so the moisture doesn't collect and kill the buds inside. You might want to try that.

[cirillonb]

Don Perusse,
Thanks for the valuable hint.
Nick