Bud-less Potnara

[Katherine]

I bought a Potnara about a month ago, in spike. The little mitten that the bud should come out of is empty. How long does it take to develop a bud, or is something wrong?

[Cjcorner]

Cattleya like to take their time...sometimes. Most of the time as a p-bulb develops it will grow a sheath. The sheath can then fill with buds or sit there empty making you crazy. Most of the time when this happens I chalk it up to "it's not time to bloom yet". But there are also other factors, such as change in care, bugs, heat, cold...etc that can affect your plant and stop the buds growing. Be patient and someday it may bloom. If it doesn't, you may want to change light levels, or perhaps fertilizer. Usually it's not time for it to bloom...but please keep in mind; a newly purchased plant has probably gone into "shock". It has left a lovely nursery environment designed for it to grow at the height of it's potential. Then bam it gets sent to a store and then to your house. Give it a couple weeks to a few months to come out of shock. Keep caring for it like normal, and hang in there.

[Katherine]

Thanks! I shall be patient. The plant is healthy, but may be too cool for it

[pipsxlch]

Connie had the best advice, but sometimes it takes awhile for the buds to start to develop. A few of my plants will sit there with empty sheaths, then BOOM! they fill up and bloom almost overnight it seems. On some the sheath will yellow and dry up before the buds develop also. Since this is a new plant though, I tend to think it got 'thrown off track' by the change in conditions as Connie said.
Cute Aussie BTW!

[BValdes]

Hi Katherine you've gotten great advice from above I just wanted to know if the name "Potnara" is correct since I googled the name and the one it comes out is "Potinara" Thanks.

[Magnus A]

Katherine, has you plant flowered before? Young cattleyas can develope sheats without blomming.

And in general there is two "families" of Cattleyas! The ones that flower directly after a psuevdobulb has matu.-red and those that have a resting period before flowering, The later may not develope buds in the sheath until late into the restingperiod. Just be paitient and explore what your Cattleya are up to :-)

/M

[Katherine]

Sorry, Yes, it is a Potinara Caesar's Head 'Carolina Autumn'. I am really anxious for this to bloom

[Katherine]

Magnus, How do i know Which variety my... Potinara Caesar's Head 'Carolina Autumn' is?

[Kmac]

A potinara is a member of the cattleya family. Due the reclassification of some catt family members, yours is now an Rlc rather than a Pot. (Rhyncholaeliocattleya [Rlc.] (syn. Potinara or Pot.) Caesar's Head.

So, the its parents are Rlc. Marita x Rlc. Golden Camilla. Any "child" or that cross (or "grex" in the orchid world) is called Caesar's Head. 'Carolina's Autumn' refers to a particular child, or any of its clones.

I hope this helps you.

[Katherine]

A potinara is a member of the cattleya family. Due the reclassification of some catt family members, yours is now an Rlc rather than a Pot. (Rhyncholaeliocattleya [Rlc.] (syn. Potinara or Pot.) Caesar's Head.

So, the its parents are Rlc. Marita x Rlc. Golden Camilla. Any "child" or that cross (or "grex" in the orchid world) is called Caesar's Head. 'Carolina's Autumn' refers to a particular child, or any of its clones.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you, i find the names very interesting....even when the powers that be change the name (usually larger ) and give me a head ache!