BLC. Smaba Splendor 'Puerto Rico'

[NYCorchidman]

Cattleya bug has bitten me!
This is another one of those instant gratification.

There are two spikes, one looks so healthy and good with four beautifully colored buds while the other one looks very stunted with two malformed buds and leaf.
Quite disturbing but I am looking forward to the open bloom.

[dounoharm]

oh you have a great privilege in store!! be sure to post the open flowers!!! good growing!

[james mickelso]

Hopefully the runt will open and not rot. Pics please.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Hopefully the runt will open and not rot. Pics please.

The runt is well, runt. hahaha
There are actually two buds on that stunted spike but only one barely shows in the picture.
One of the two is already dead and dry. The one with the two round raised marks, which resemble the mystery ring disease of dendrobiums, is still growing, just very slow and looking freaky with color break and deformity.

It seems deformed leaf is quite common in cattleyas.
More than half of the cattleyas that I had or still have, have at least one leaf on them that are "abnormal".
Now, I wonder if that is a result of random genetic disorder or work of some virus, which I really hope is not the case.
Who knows...

Anyhow, the other healthy looking four buds are slowly developing, and my anticipation is also growing.
how nice or ugly they will open up to be...

---------- Post added at 12:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:58 AM ----------

Originally Posted by dounoharm

oh you have a great privilege in store!! be sure to post the open flowers!!! good growing!

Thank you, but I bought this plant in bud, so can't really take the credit.