Cattleya sheaths but no buds

[lusenok]

It's common. My spring-blooming cattleya grows a sheath together with a new pseudobulb in summer. But the buds only appear the next spring, 6-7 month after the sheath.

[ALToronto]

I had to wait 5 months with empty sheaths before buds showed up.

[marcoeverard]

Thanks you have put my mind at rest

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by lusenok

It's common. My spring-blooming cattleya grows a sheath together with a new pseudobulb in summer. But the buds only appear the next spring, 6-7 month after the sheath.

This is especially so for hybrids with heavy dose of Cattleya (Laelia) purpurata. My plant has just finished 3 new bulbs, all with sheaths, but it wont bloom till next May/June.

[tucker85]

Fall, winter or spring blooming cattleyas produce buds in sheaths that were formed during the previous summer growing season. This can be weeks or months after the sheath has formed. Only summer blooming cattleyas form buds in brand new sheaths, sometimes before the pseudo-bulb is even finished growing. Cattleyas generally bloom at about the same time every year so keep track of when each one blooms and you'll probably see buds forming in the sheath around that time next year.

[orchidsarefun]

I agree they tend to bloom like clockwork, once they initially bloom !
You should investigate the species in the background of yours as it will help. This is an interesting article
The Great Cattleya Species of the Cut-Flower Era | Chadwick and Son Orchids
Of course hybridisation has impacted flowering but genetics can still be helpful

[lotis146]

I have a mini Catt with I think 3 very small sheaths that have been there since I got it in late spring. No buds are evident. What's interesting though is that I got this plant from Sunset Valley Orchids and he gave me a duplicate for free and that plant spiked in June, bloomed in July. The other one had a bud blast, meanwhile the bloomed one has one empty sheath.

I'm glad this thread was started because surely many of us wonder and worry when this happens. Lucky me I read a thread earlier in the spring/summer that many of your members shared this same phenomenon that it could take MONTHS for a bud to grow. Meanwhile, my Lc. Mini Purple x L. Dayana is in bud now without ever having a sheath.

[voyager]

I have mounted a fairly large number of Catt hybrids and other genera hybrids on the trees around my property.
I was concerned about my Catts.
Almost all of them were developing new sheaths, but no buds seemed to be developing inside of them.
I stopped watching them for a while as I had other concerns on my mind.
Suddenly, I've got several new Catts with buds about to open, and several more with buds developing inside their sheaths.
What seems to happen is the sheath develops and later the buds begin to grow inside.
The time frame can be weeks or months.
That doesn't guarantee buds will develop.
But, it does indicate that they will do it at their own pace when they're ready.

[marcoeverard]

I have just noticed that one of them has some buds apearing right at the bottom of the sheath. It is just a small shadow at the moment but I am bery hopeful.

[NYCorchidman]

Cattleyas in general respond to photo-period to decide when to flower.
Many hybrids may bloom as soon as the sheath appear, but many also sit there and wait either a couple of months (very common) up to half a year like one example given above, although these usually have long narrowish leaves (influence coming from laelia purpurata). I also have a spring flowering hybrid that makes sheath as early as early summer then continue on into the fall or even winter.
All of these wait and bloom together in the spring into early summer.

While some cattleyas may withstand some chilly weather, it is in general not a good idea.

Especially with sheaths and potential buds coming, you don't want to risk anything.
Do the same thing that you've been doing and all will be fine.

Empty sheaths are also common, but given the fat base of the sheath, especially the second plant, they will definitely flower out of it.

10 days absence is fine. Just water well right before you leave and then leave the plant somewhere indoor away from too much light, and they will be fine.


Good luck!