Pseudobulbocide - Should I kill it?

[Troythediver]

Should I pinch off this new pseudo bulb? It has grown from nothing to this in three weeks,but in northern ohio we are headed into winter. Will it have enough light to grow correctly? Also another pseudo bulb on the plant is nearly mature, and in the root stage.

[Troythediver]

I should remark that this is my first cattleya alliance plant. It is Potinara Dick Smith 'Dark Beauty'. Here is the currently maturing pseudo bulb. I've had the orchid for 5 weeks. The sheath part turned brown about a week ago, which was when I noticed the little root tips growing from the bulb's base.

[Troythediver]

One last thing. It was wrapped in a plastic bag in a not so bright location when I bought it. Could that be what caused its growth cycle to become out of whack. I was going to repot it since the tag says the last potting was in 2012. But now I'm nervous that I'll mess up its growth cycle. It looks crowded in the pot, but the bark still looks decent. Also the new roots are growing into the medium. You can sort of see the new roots in this pic.

[cbuchman]

I'd let it grow. It will slow down if the plant can't support it. Most likely it will continue to grow, but at a slower pace. I have a Pot. with 2 new growths starting. It pretty much grows year round. Remember that when the new growth(s) mature, you get blooms.

The sheath browning is normal. I often [carefully] pull them off when they brown up as they provide great hiding places for bugs.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Not sure why you were thinking of pinching it off, but no - don't do that! Let it grow.

The plant is growing, so this is the perfect time to re-pot, or, since the medium looks OK, wait until that new shoot matures and re-pot when the next growth starts to form. It seems happy with a bark-based medium, so re-pot into something similar.

Hint: The pot is not overly large for the plant, they like "tight feet", but when you re-pot, consider using a terra cotta pot the next size larger.

[Troythediver]

Thanks. I guess it can't hurt to let it go a little longer before repotting. As you said it's growing well now so it seems happy. But if a growth's roots start growing directly out of the pot I should then move to next size pot, correct?

[dounoharm]

no need to ever prune a cattleya in my opinion....especially the crosses like a potinara! they are bred to bloom on 'more convenient' cycles and don't follow the cycles of the parent plants....potinaras can bloom nearly year round on every new growth....if a cattleya wants to grow it will, don't discourage the new growths as that is the strength of the plant!

[Troythediver]

My instinct was to let it grow. To be honest I hate the idea of pruning any plant. I was just scared that if a Catt. got off schedule it would be harmful. It's good to know that there isn't a schedule. Thanks everyone!

[RJSquirrel]

if they grow let them grow..could be your bloom for next spring in there you never know unless you let it grow

[Orquiadicto]

Seems completely normal to me. I would let it be. I'm also having new growths on my Cattleyas in this time of year.