Cattleytonia Why Not and Sheaths Questions
 

First picture: I'll start out with my Cattleytonia Why Not. It's the first time blooming for me. Its one flower centered on the picture decided to bloom upside down.

The next two images are my Brassocattleya Theresa Ricci. It looks like one image is a sheath. There is a second image of Bc. Theresa Ricci.

→ Question 1: is the second image a sheath?

→ Question 2: how long should this be in sheath? It's been in sheath since the end of May, which doesn't seem right.

The last two images are my Laeliocattleya Green Veil x Brassia nodosa.

→ Question 3: is this in sheath?

I'm still a Cattleya newbie, so I'm thrilled to share new flowers and still not sure what to expect with my Catts.

Thank you for any help. If there are resources on the web, please direct me.

Thank you for any help!

Yes, those are all sheaths. Congratulations!

Cattleya hybrids, especially with Brassavola nodosa ancestry, may wait many months before blooming.

Thank you for the info, e!

Love that Cattleytonia Why Not! I have only seen red ones. But clearly this one was made with the yellow form of Gur. (C.) aurantiaca and Bro. sanguinea. (Both species in the parentage have lovely yellow forms) Beautiful!

So, estación, now that I can type….how do you know they’re in sheath?

Each photo shows a sheath inside the base of the leaves. Most of those hybrids have one leaf.

Ah, the unifolates versus bifolates! It's coming back to me, now. Thank you! Seems I have some more research to do!

Here's another tip. IF the sheaths turn brown (tan actually and look like crepe paper) do not panic and DO NOT cut them off as there are several types that hold the sheath like that for months (typically from fall to spring) and then all of a sudden you'll see the buds inside them and they pop out.

Depending on what's in the background of yours, it could carry that trait.

Excellent thank tip! Thank you!

If this is one of Harry Tokunagas plants, it's an alba (flava?) mutation of a RED tetraploid 'why not' crop. He considered it a near impossible mutation! Its a lot of recessive genes to line up from two tipo parents. He spoke about it in his talk on tetraploid breeding