Cattleya maxima strange growth

[Ray]

Personally, I suspect that the "sheath versus none" discussion is moot, and that plant is not preparing to bloom at all.

Over the years, I have seen "cattleya-types" - especially encyclias - do that. Newer growths may- or may not have bloomed or will, and that's nothing more than some vestigial tissue that temporarily reawakened.

I could be (and hope I am-) wrong.

[Brooke]

Originally Posted by Ray

Personally, I suspect that the "sheath versus none" discussion is moot, and that plant is not preparing to bloom at all.

Over the years, I have seen "cattleya-types" - especially encyclias - do that. Newer growths may- or may not have bloomed or will, and that's nothing more than some vestigial tissue that temporarily reawakened.

I could be (and hope I am-) wrong.

I don't understand your comment of "sheath versus none". Are you saying the original post doesn't show buds?

I only grow a couple of Encyclias and don't really have an opinion on them. I do grow over 100 Catts, mainly species with quite a few primary hybrids and a couple of heavily hybridized Catts. It is not that unusual for buds to appear and then bloom without a sheath. Recently I had one Catt bloom without a sheath and another growth bloom from the sheath.

BTW I did find my third labiata today and it does have a double sheath.

Brooke