Buds Growing inside sheath finally!!!

[FSUOrchids]

Looking good!

[james mickelso]

NYOM, that is a good practice. I have lost a lot of flower buds because the y rotted in sheath. It is not a big problem except when they get moisture built up inside the sheath and then the moisture condenses on the inside of the sheath and drops to the bottom and covers the flower bud. I had my chia lin new city growing buds furiously and then it stopped. I opened the sheaths and I had nice fat "black" flower buds inside. AQlso my emerald isle, ching hua, and a few others. Now I almost always cut the sheath back and usually don't lose them after that.

[NYCorchidman]

The trimmed sheaths were dry and too hard for the growing buds in them, so I carefully removed them completely and exposed the buds.

Two of the buds are bending down, so those will bloom first I think.

can't wait for them to get larger and yellow until they finally open up!

[NYCorchidman]

So it's been a little over one month since I spotted tiny things growing inside the sheaths.

Now I see five fat buds ready to open very soon.

Today I moved the plant away from the window as the buds were about to touch the window. The whole plant was leaning toward the sun.
I carefully and successfully (no breaking of pbs, yay!) straightened two pbs with buds on them, so the pot doesn't tip over and flower presentation will be better for me.

I'm so excited!!!

[james mickelso]

With flowers that will become very heavy, I would try to carefully tie another tie a little higher. Right around the base of the first or second flower. I know you're good but thought I'd help.

[Stray59]

NYCorchidman;
They look great - had not heard about trimming sheaths before, but I can see the need in some cases!
You can tell you are a true orchid lover by the way you have monitored the bud growth - we will all but X-ray a plant to see if there are buds emerging!
Congrats on the really nice bud formation!
Steve

[james mickelso]

Oh!!?? You mean I'm one of the few who exray regularly???!!! Hmmm.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

With flowers that will become very heavy, I would try to carefully tie another tie a little higher. Right around the base of the first or second flower. I know you're good but thought I'd help.

Thanks, James.

The first picture is before the fix. well, neither of these two pictures really show how straight it is very clearly.

After the fix, plants are standing straight up, but all the buds are hanging on one side.
I put the whole thing in a heavy duty deco pot, which is also not shown in the pictures.

---------- Post added at 03:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Stray59

NYCorchidman;
They look great - had not heard about trimming sheaths before, but I can see the need in some cases!
You can tell you are a true orchid lover by the way you have monitored the bud growth - we will all but X-ray a plant to see if there are buds emerging!
Congrats on the really nice bud formation!
Steve

Thanks, Steve.

Two of the buds are turning yellow. not as in blasting, but getting ready to open soon. This is a yellow flower.

Yeah, with low humidity level in my house, I don't think trimming is really necessary as in the greenhouse setting, but I thought I would do whatever helps in any way because this plant only blooms once a year.

[Brooke]

Here is a friendly tip for all of the Catt growers - the sheath, whether green or brown, is an extra support for large blooms. If the plant produces really large blooms the flower stem can snap at the base without the support of the sheath.

If you grow inside or in a g/h you shouldn't have problems with water being trapped in the sheath since you control the water supply. If you grow outside and get free water, it might be an issue.

There was a plan for the buds to be hidden and protected inside the sheath.

Brooke

[NYCorchidman]

OMG!!!! good thing I read this now. Thank you for the tip!

I just checked the plant and the spike with two buds looked fine but the one with three buds were bending down. I examined it and the base of the spike where it attached to the pb was really tender that I thought it was going to break off any minute.

I used a florist wire and now both spikes are secure.

I actually peeled off the remaining sheath completely this morning.
I guess I should have left them.

Next time, I know what to do.

Thanks, again!