New to Cattleyas and hybrids…
 

Hello all! Since I am new to Cattleya hybrids, I have to share and ask questions even though I’ve been reading up on them. The plant in the picture is a Potinara hybrid from Sunset Valley Orchids. It came with what looks what like folks refer to as a ‘sheath’, which was dry and brown. It seems to be getting bigger and the other day, with the sun behind it I noticed what look like buds in the sheath. Put the flashlight behind it to show you. So my question(s) are, this is a sheath right? Those are buds? The big question here is to cut it open or not? In reading some say cut it open, most folks say no. Thanks for the advice!

Congratulations! Yes, they're buds. I don't cut open sheaths.

Ditto. I never cut open sheaths.

After many years of growing cattleyas I find the more you leave the developing buds alone the better the result is like to be.

It happened to in the past the need to open a sheath but it was a specific case that I can't remember.
Usually I also don't open them.

don't quote me, but I know some vendors (such as Waldor) do slice the top of a sheath on occasion. (I have purchased a number of catts from them).

Personally if the sheath turns brown I will, using a sterile blade, slice the very top of the sheath to allow any condensation to escape. If the sheath is green I leave it alone. so for species like skinneri which bloom from dry sheaths they usually get sliced. might be overkill but I have lost buds in sheath to rot on occasion.