Cattleya (Laelia) crispa sheath question
 

...this plant has not done anything since winter. No new growths, no new roots, nothing for over 6 months. And yesterday, I noticed the sheaths starting to fatten...

The sheaths of C. cripsa are extremely thick and tough (thicker than a Cattleya leaf...). I saw that some people cut the Laelia sheaths to help buds emerge and prevent deformation. Is this necessary?

Jeff ----- I have heard of growers opening the top of the sheaths to take a peek into it - just to see if buds are alive (and not dried up --- aborted etc). But maybe opening up the sheath should probably only be done if something is really suspected to be wrong in there.

If the plant is strong, then the slow growing buds are really like a train in slow motion. They're tough, and if they grow properly - nothing will get in their way --- especially a sheath.

But at the same time, if the humidity is ok in the growing area, and no water (rain etc) is allowed to get into the sheath to build up, then opening up the top of the sheath might not hurt the buds - as we do know that some orchids has sheathless spiking. On the other hand, if buds happen to have their processes working well inside the sheath (with own humidity or something in there), and then abrupt change in conditions due to opening the sheath ----- then maybe there is at least 'some' chance of issue. May or may not be significant.

Maybe growing conditions/environment should be factored in here - just in case.

thanks, I understand. I generally would not open a sheath.
C. crispa sheaths, though, have such heavy substance that I was wondering how the buds could possibly break through without some deformation. I heard that the spikes of C. crispa can grow quickly, emerging out of sheath and flowering in a matter of a few days.

Jeff - if there's the tell-tale silhouette of a spike within the sheath ---- fat column, and that sihouette is lengthening and moving up each day ----- then you could probably (later) very carefully open up the top of the sheath --- a little bit to begin with (just to cut down on system shock to begin with). And after some time of settling ----- could then carefully split the sheath open.

Whatever happens ---- it's ok, as the buds/spike can either just do the usual and progress onward to flowering - or otherwise. But the chance of everything going normally is expected to be high. Whatever happens - the orchid's own health isn't going to be affected. So it will be fine.

Also, out in the wild ---- there will be no-one to open sheaths etc. But also --- another view is - is if we're interested to see what happens without intervention, then something useful could be learned from not intervening. Although, we'd learn something from intervening too ----- so either way is ok. The orchid will be fine anyway :)

Plants use water turgor to force their way through obstacles. If the plant's water balance is OK it should be able to make it on its own. Water balance involves having a reasonable humidity, so the plant doesn't lose an abnormal amount of water through transpiration, and water supply to the roots. The second is easy to control; the first can be an issue, but your plant looks so good, I doubt you have too-low humidity.

No need to cut the sheath

Thanks, I'm sure the buds will emerge out of the sheath, regardless of the quality of the resulting spike/flowers. as plants do in nature.

I was wondering if cutting the sheath would help the form of the spike, alignment of buds, and shape of the flowers, for plants with particularly thick sheaths. Occasionally, I have had buds get stuck in a sheath (labiate type cattleya) and it would emerge a bit deformed.

This is the first time I've gotten the C. crispa to spike. this species (or just my particular strain) has sheaths that are much more substantial than a labiate cattleya sheath. I was curious if I had to intervene the natural growth to get it to bloom nicely (and not a sad contorted spike).

I'll leave it alone for now. blooms are right around the corner...!

Jeff - maybe it could affect trajectories ---- but there will be other variables that will affect trajectory too - the growing conditions, and environment etc.

But - a test needs to start somewhere. So if you do cut the sheath now, then that would be one way to get on the road toward finding out whether cutting the sheath creates a benefit in one way or another - as in spike trajectory, or bud appearance (eg. prevents deformation).

This kind of testing could probably take a while, or maybe requires the help of a lot of other growers for getting a rough idea about whether cutting a sheath open can make a nice difference in spike or bud formation.

Nice and interesting topic of discussion anyway.

I especially wouldn't do anything to the sheaths on that L. crispa except observe. I think it is getting very close to bloom time... I looked up the history of mine, and they bloom any time between early August and late September. Whoo hoo!

SouthPark,
I thought about cutting one sheath and leaving the other alone... I do like an experiment. Not a good idea now though - I just moved last week and still trying to figure out the placement of my plants. Also this 100 oF heat wave that's going on in California...

How is yours doing? Do you stake yours?
I'm pretty pumped - never seen a Brazilian Laelia species.