Is this a flower sheath?

[Panino]

Hello everyone! So... here´s the story. About a 2 months ago my BLC NoId started putting out a new pseudobulb. It is getting pretty big and it already has a little leaf coming out. However, last week I noticed there is something else coming out from the base of the leaf and I was wondering if that could be a flower sheath. I'm uber excited about this because this would be the first time an orchid flowers because of MY GOOD CARE of it! haha I would appreciate any info you guys can give me. I was also wondering if, in case this is a flower sheath, how long would it take for it to flower in the best of the possibilities? I'm asking this because I'm moving to another country in 3 months and I don't know if the flower sheath would survive the trip! :/ I just don't wanna lose it! haha

PS: the white spots that you see on the leaves came with the plant from the greenhouse. I think the guy who sold it to me sprayed it with insectcides. No matter how much I clean the leaves the spots always come back! :/

[isurus79]

Nope, that is not a sheath. It is a new growth. With proper care, it will turn into a bulb and leaf that looks like your other ones. The sheath will come out later.

[silken]

It does look like a flower sheath! Sometimes they can grow a 2nd leaf that sort of looks like a sheath at the start, even on mainly unifoliate plants. but it looks like a sheath to me!

Hard to say how long before you see blooms. If it is progressing that fast, you could have a bloom before you leave. But others take months to develop. Good luck and post pics when it blooms!

[isurus79]

Oh, there's a third pic!! lol I only saw the first two. Silken is right, it looks like a sheath is forming.

[tucker85]

It's too early to tell for sure. Your plant has some pseudobulbs with single leaves and at least one with a double leaf. The growth you see could be another leaf or it could be a sheath. Only time will tell. Here's the unfortunate news about sheaths, they don't really mean much. Sheaths will appear as the psuedobulb grows and matures. It can form buds soon after that or it can wait months before forming any buds. Also only some of the sheaths will bloom, others never will. And, to further confuse us growers, some psuedobulbs will bloom without ever forming a sheath at all. The good news is that your plant looks healthy and it's growing well. Congratulations.

[Panino]

Wow guys! Thank you so much! I understand there are many things that could go wrong even if it is a sheath. Then again, I think that's part of what makes orchids so appealing to me. I like the mystery and all the waiting involved. If I get a flower I will definitely post the pictures here. I don't even know what the color of the flower is. It's like having a baby without knowing the sex! haha Just knowing that it's healthy and happy is enough for me! Again, thank you for your help!