Sheath? - Orchid Board

ces797 · #1 09-18-2009, 06:29 PM

Alright so please excuse my stupidity but until now I've only really had Phals. This is my first Cattleya and it came to me with what I think is a sheath. Unless I don't know what I'm talking about, does every new growth have the one main leaf and then this min sort of leaf that eventually drops off or is this indeed a sheath. What I read about sheaths though said they sort of covered the flower until it was ready to emerge but this sheath is EMPTY. I don' see or feel anything in it.
Posting a pic. In the pic there is some dark shadowing on the far side of the sheath but that is just shadow, it's completely flat

Carl Austin · #2 09-18-2009, 06:47 PM

That is indeed a sheath. Sometimes the buds don't develop until weeks or even months later. It depends on the breeding. Have patience.

Carl

ces797 · #3 09-18-2009, 06:49 PM

Oh nice!
Thanks for the reply.
Hopefully it still flowers and the shipping process didn't inhibit the flowering

orchidbingo · #4 09-18-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ces797

Oh nice!
Thanks for the reply.
Hopefully it still flowers and the shipping process didn't inhibit the flowering

I've received many plants in sheath that eventually went on to form buds. It can often take months!

good luck.

bingo

ces797 · #5 09-19-2009, 06:18 PM

Months?
Wow, alright well then I guess it certainly has time to develop in that empty sheath. haha
It seems so foreign to me. I only have had phal's and they are all in clear pots so I know exactly when to water and now I'm staring at this guy in a green pot thinking, how the heck do I know when to water. The mix is super chunky and hard so there goes the finger test.

WhiteRabbit · #6 09-19-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ces797

Months?
Wow, alright well then I guess it certainly has time to develop in that empty sheath. haha
It seems so foreign to me. I only have had phal's and they are all in clear pots so I know exactly when to water and now I'm staring at this guy in a green pot thinking, how the heck do I know when to water. The mix is super chunky and hard so there goes the finger test.

well you can re-pot into a clear pot and/or use a skewer. I have skewers in all my pots - even the clear ones. Just bamboo skewers like for kabobs - can get them at the grocery store

ces797 · #7 09-20-2009, 07:22 PM

Is it okay to re-pot when it's in sheath?

WhiteRabbit · #8 09-20-2009, 07:57 PM

I have repotted some in sheath with no buds visible - one - l purpurata - went on to bloom later. The other two are more recent. The sheaths still look good tho.
I just try not to mess with the roots excessively. Don't know if it matters or not. Hopefully some more experienced catt growers will chime in

Carl Austin · #9 09-21-2009, 12:04 AM

It's best to repot Cattleyas when there are new roots less than 1/2" long. There is seldom a valid reason to repot them at any other time and it does set them back.

Carl