How do you know when there will be a sheath?

[escualida]

It might be a while before I do, the media still looks pretty fresh and there's still room for it to grow.

So basically if there will be a sheath I should be able to see it once the new leaf opens, otherwise it won't grow one?

[silken]

Once the pseudobulb has matured, if it hasn't grown a sheath, it won't. There may be the odd exception to the rule. When the new growths get about half grown, make sure the plant is getting good light and you may want to switch to a bloom booster fertilizer. As mentioned before, my Laelia tenebrosa has a large sheath showing from a not fully grown or opened leaf. I can't remember if it did the very same thing last year, but likely.

I snapped a quick photo of mine just now. The leaf in the black circle is the largest new growth with the sheath. I guess the leaf is mostly open now but wasn't a week ago. You can see it still isn't as large as last year's growth that bloomed. The red circle is the second new growth that is smaller and the leaf not open enough to show me if I get a sheath or not. This plant is in a 5 or 6 inch pot and the mature leaves are quite large, maybe 7 or 8 inches long not counting the pseudobulb

[escualida]

Thanks silken

[silken]

Originally Posted by escualida

Thanks silken

I just added a photo in my previous post. Hope it helps.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by silken

Once the pseudobulb has matured, if it hasn't grown a sheath, it won't. There may be the odd exception to the rule. When the new growths get about half grown, make sure the plant is getting good light and you may want to switch to a bloom booster fertilizer. As mentioned before, my Laelia tenebrosa has a large sheath showing from a not fully grown or opened leaf. I can't remember if it did the very same thing last year, but likely.

I snapped a quick photo of mine just now. The leaf in the black circle is the largest new growth with the sheath. I guess the leaf is mostly open now but wasn't a week ago. You can see it still isn't as large as last year's growth that bloomed. The red circle is the second new growth that is smaller and the leaf not open enough to show me if I get a sheath or not. This plant is in a 5 or 6 inch pot and the mature leaves are quite large, maybe 7 or 8 inches long not counting the pseudobulb

Well actually silken, a pseudobulb not developing a sheath upon maturity does not mean it will not flower. It would have to grow several more pseudobulbs before you can say with high certainty that a specific pb won't. A catt can flower from a bulb as much as 2 bulbs back from the newest lead. I have several example currently in my greenhouse right this instant that are pushing up buds from 44th & 3rd to newest pb's after the newest has flowered, and also after the maturity of the newst pb. A lot of times pb's lay dormant because of a lack of enough light and phosphorous. I would remain hopeful with a bit of a change in ur cattleya culture. good luck!

[silken]

Originally Posted by CR7cristiano

Well actually silken, a pseudobulb not developing a sheath upon maturity does not mean it will not flower. It would have to grow several more pseudobulbs before you can say with high certainty that a specific pb won't. A catt can flower from a bulb as much as 2 bulbs back from the newest lead. I have several example currently in my greenhouse right this instant that are pushing up buds from 44th & 3rd to newest pb's after the newest has flowered, and also after the maturity of the newst pb. A lot of times pb's lay dormant because of a lack of enough light and phosphorous. I would remain hopeful with a bit of a change in ur cattleya culture. good luck!

I agree, nothing is ever black and white with orchid growing which is why I did say there could be an exception. I have never had it happen or even know anyone who has had blooms on older growths. But I do know someone who has just recently had a spike on a cattleya finish blooming and now it sent a 2nd spike from the same pseudobulb with several more blooms!

[CR7cristiano]

You see, you should never count out a happy orchid's willingness to reward you with providing it with the best environment to keep it happy.

[RosieC]

I have a question. I have a purpurata which developed something that looks like Silken's pictue of a sheath. However it is in two halfs like a leaf. I've never had a sheath before as I've only just started growing Catts, and I expected it to be more sealed arround the edges. So I assumed it was in fact a second leaf. However it's thinner in texture than the leaves.

So does that sound right for a sheath or is it more likely to be a leaf?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by RosieC

I have a question. I have a purpurata which developed something that looks like Silken's pictue of a sheath. However it is in two halfs like a leaf. I've never had a sheath before as I've only just started growing Catts, and I expected it to be more sealed arround the edges. So I assumed it was in fact a second leaf. However it's thinner in texture than the leaves.

So does that sound right for a sheath or is it more likely to be a leaf?

The fact that it is thinner than a leaf sounds like a sheath, but if it split, that is very unusual. Pics?

[RosieC]

I'll try and get a pic.