Cattleya skinneri var alba - Page 2 - Orchid Board

smartie2000 · #11 04-06-2007, 06:01 PM

Looking great

These guys grow fast

Elena · #12 04-06-2007, 07:09 PM

Cannot wait to see the flowers!

Orchonubee · #13 04-06-2007, 09:18 PM

[QUOTE=Henke;25426]Hi,
Well the Alba is coming along fine. The fist bloom spike has penetrated the spata. QUOTE]

I have a question, and this seems to be the perfect time to ask. Is it best to tear or remove the spata as the bloom spikes, or leave it alone?

I too look forward to pictures.

Rico

Tindomul · #14 04-07-2007, 12:29 AM

Its always exciting to see these bloom!! I love Catts! I hope yours come out extra fluffy.

Henke · #15 04-07-2007, 06:32 AM

[QUOTE=Orchonubee;25458]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henke

Hi,
Well the Alba is coming along fine. The fist bloom spike has penetrated the spata. QUOTE]

I have a question, and this seems to be the perfect time to ask. Is it best to tear or remove the spata as the bloom spikes, or leave it alone?

I too look forward to pictures.

Rico

Hello Rico.
I'm by no means an expert but I heard this from one. If the spata becoms brown and the spike isn't penetrating, You can carefully slide the spata open. He said that there might be yet another spata inside it. But it should only be done if you really suspect that the spike isn't coming through or is in danger of drying down.
Maybe one of the more experienced growers in here can confirm or not confirm.

Happy landings
//Henke

Shadow · #16 04-07-2007, 11:36 AM

I heard that some people cut the 'empty' spata to stimulate the bud growing. And the bud wakes up and start growing. But I'm not sure if this is a truth.

Orchonubee · #17 04-07-2007, 03:26 PM

I am always fearful when messing with a bud or anypart of it, as I've had them abort. Don't know if it would have aborted whether I did anything or not. However I once found some scale like bugs in one, and since then I have carefully trimmed the spata. I wondered if I was doing more potential harm than good.

smartie2000 · #18 04-07-2007, 03:29 PM

If you are growing in low humidity, like indoors in the winter. Tearing the empty sheath isn't a good idea because it lowers the humidity on the buds that may potentially develop...

I don't usually rip it off when the plant is in bloom, but you can if you want to make the plant more tidy. If the spike is not penetrating through I slit it open. I see that you buds have already penetrated though. The sheath serves no use anymore and you can remove it if you want

Orchonubee · #19 04-07-2007, 10:45 PM

Thanx Fren, This was the kind of information I was looking for. Tips like this are the difference between a bloom and no bloom.
Rico

littlefrog · #20 04-09-2007, 10:30 AM

Hey... Probably blatant advertising, but I just picked up four of these really inexpensively from a local grower who is going out of business. I'd tell you who, but it wouldn't matter, I have them all.

Anyway, anybody want one? Beautiful plants in 5" pots. Cheap! PM me.

Now back to your ad free programming.

edit: add a picture