Sheaths and bloom buds

[Dub3]

I have several Cats that have sent up sheaths and some with bloom buds. My question is "is it normal for Cats that are growing and look healthy to send up sheaths and not have any bloom buds"

[lotis146]

New to Catts myself but I've heard that sometimes they can grow sheaths and not have buds right away. It's normal.

[silken]

A number of my younger Catts produce empty sheaths for a year or two before they actually bloom. They are likely not quite mature enough. If it is not in good growing conditions it could also do this. And I think now and then it is just bad timing for the growth that matures or a freak of nature. Not uncommon to happen but its more fun when there are buds in there!

[Dub3]

Amen to that, thanks for the reply

[tucker85]

Summer blooming cattleyas often develop buds in the sheath when the pseudo-bulb is still growing out and not yet completely mature. Winter and spring blooming cattleyas grow pseudo-bulbs and sheaths during the summer growing season. When the pseudo-bulbs are fully grown the cattleya goes into a rest period from a couple months to several months depending on the blooming season. Eventually buds begin to form in the fully mature sheaths and it will go on to bloom.

[Cattleya17]

It's quite frustrating but don't rip the sheaths off. I am still learning that lesson! I get so impatient and I just had to see what that eye at the bottom of the sheath was doing! Then I would see that it was still green and viable and had tiny tiny buds even though the sheath was brown. In fact I just did it to my Maxima last week and it had tiny buds forming. So now who knows if they will make it.


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[Dub3]

Gosh, I never thought of that. I do have one that turned brown over a month ago and I thought about cutting it off to prevent a rot problem. Guess I'll wait longer.