Flower Spike or Leaf
 

Hey All,

Plant is a Cattleya Memorial Susan Joy. Being a complex hybrid it has some PB with one leaf but the majority has 2. I'm leaning (more like wishing) this is a flower sheath. I don't see anything inside but it doesn't look like a leaf to me either. Historically as a vigorous growing plant it has stalled. Last year this time it was sending out new leads, one after another, I think like 3. .I am not sure what time of year this plant blooms, my guess is spring. It has never bloomed before. Got this plant 2 years ago as a seedling, that almost didn't make it from Ca deficiency and rot on only leaf. Leaf still is scared but rest of plant is doing really well.

It's really hard to tell from that angle but I'm leaning towards leaf I'm afraid. How many PB's does it have so far/how old is it?

Thats the 10th. The rest are really small except 1 (original). The new one has not developed yet but looks like its about to, thats the one I was thinking was sheath. Plant I am guessing 3 years old maybe 4. I had it for 2 years got it 12/22.

It had one PB when I got it. Always had an odd black color to it, but it wasnt rot. It shortly through up a new shoot and that one died away from what looked like rot, but I think it was Ca deficiency, started using CaNo3. All new growths has not shown any symptom of Ca deficiency, Basically I use CaNo3 along with a few other chemicals now and I really think that is what saved this plant (the Ca anyways). I do supplement with epsomn salt but not the same time as doing Ca. Our water supply has only 60ppm TDS and thats the max that Ive seen it. Ca and Mg very low.

I think you may be right, I just repotted it this fall, it was in a 3 inch pot, now in 4 . Anyways being these leaves are getting much bigger is a good sign. Id rather see a plant thriving than just surviving even with blooms. Thanks for your input and Happy New Years all.

That's a sheath. The flower buds will form inside that and emerge when big enough.

Kewl. Thanks Stephen. Ill keep waiting patiently

NO Sheath...you were right Bear. It was a leaf. Ohh well maybe this spring. I still have no idea when this one blooms LOL...