What is this?

All of our orchids were purchased very young or at near blooming stage. And doing well as far as new roots and leaves, but no flowers yet! What is this?? More leaves? It is new to us.....a......dare I hope.....flower about to happen??? (fingers crossed). Please be brutally honest. We don't know what we are looking for. This is Blc. Hwa Yuan Beauty 'Pearl'. (holding breath for reply).

It's hard to tell from that angle. Could be a sheath...the end-on view will tell you. If it opens in a V shape, it's another leaf. If the end-on view is just a single edge then it's a sheath.

Yours may be a Catt that forms a bud within the sheath immediately, or it may want to rest for a few months before buds form. Once you see buds forming inside, however, up the water a little bit.

Good luck, Tmai!

Julie

to me it looks like another leaf.I may be wrong but the shape is that of the leaf
sheaths are usually that pointy

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Growing orchids is not an addiction
but a disease,that,can not be cured


murray

Ahhh.... it does look like a leaf. It is pointy and thin, but end on view is a single edge, not a "V". (Still hope?) Here is a pic of the plant. So young. This would be the first psuedobulb of four with two leaves, if leaf it is.
What about the other pic? It's an Olaara Jane Fumiye 'Hawaii'.
Thanks for your help, I don't really know what to look for as all my plants are young. Doesn't hurt to dream, tho!
Tmai

The lower plant is showing a sheath where the flower spike will come from.The plant is still very small and may not fill out the spike.If it does flower do not leave the flowers on for very long,say,see what the first flower opens like and then remove the spike so as to help the plant for the next stage of its life.

__________________
Growing orchids is not an addiction
but a disease,that,can not be cured


murray

That is a sheath on your Jane Fumiye 'Hawaii". Just so you know that's an Otaara (your plant may have been mislabeled or that could have been just a typo).

I have this plant as well in a 4" pot with four more p-bulbs than yours. The strange thing about this one (for me), is that on a bifoliate p-bulb one leaf is produced, then the next leaf (which looks like a sheath for a while). After the second leaf is produced, the sheath follows shortly (just like in your pic). Jane is really a cool plant. The flowers are about 4" across, shades of lavender, and fairly long lasting for a catt. This plant will bloom a minimum of 2x a year under good care, sometimes 3x. I haven't noticed a scent. (But then again I smoke and can't smell the really subtle fragrances.)

You should have flowers within 6-8 weeks, I would say. Keep us posted!

Thanks! Olaara was a typo on my part, it does say Otaara.
Oooooh... can't wait. None of my plants have bloomed yet.........
We've had 'Pearl' for four months now (our first orchid), but Jane is our newest baby. Interesting point about the leaves - I will look for that.
Thanks for all your replies, and wish me luck! Hmmmmmm....better wish Pearl and Jane luck instead!
Tmai

It's always so much fun when you get a first bloom! But don't be too disappointed if she decides to put out the sheath but no buds. The does happen quite frequently on young plants. (actually it happens on mature plants too!) She looks really happy, so we are all keeping our fingers crossed!!!

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Diane

"NA BEAN DO'N CHAT GUN LAMHAINN"

Okay! New forum project - Clint can stay in the sarong, but he has to quit smoking... It's bad for the 'chids!! (and for you too, Clint!) Think of it this way - in California a carton of cigarettes must cost about - uhmm - I don't know, I don't smoke, but I think it's maybe $45?? Think how many orchids you could buy if you had all those $45 dollars you spend on smokes!?!??!!! (okay, okay - I won't nag you again)

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Diane

"NA BEAN DO'N CHAT GUN LAMHAINN"

Oh...yet, she's begun. She won't keep that promise, Clint! Better do as she says - for your own peace of mind!

Julie