Is This A Space Alien??

[eaglssong]

Okay, so I now have three of these blc. Owen Holmes 'Mendenhall' AM/AOS X blc Plum Pretty 'Black Magic.' Problem is (or maybe not a problem at all, other than me feeling really stupid), I've noticed that on all three plants, there is one leaf per pseudobulb. But then I noticed what appears to be second leaves growing from the same pseudobulb in a few cases (and varying sizes too).

So, at the risk of really appearing really dumb, could someone tell me what these are? Are they indeed leaves (they sure look like it). Will flowers bloom from them?









I am sooooooooo very confused!!

[smwboxer]

Those are sheaths. If all goes well, buds will develop inside them

[eaglssong]

Thank you soooooooooo much. One of these days I'll get this stuff figured out .......... if I live long enough. LOL

[Tednz]

Are you sure sheaths usually appear after the bulbs are more muture.
Tednz

[eaglssong]

Are you sure sheaths usually appear after the bulbs are more muture.
Tednz

These are very mature plants, and have already bloomed, if that's any help!!

[Tednz]

I think we are getting a bit lost here those look like new growths and new growths generally flower but they have to further along in there development to put up a sheath.I have had plants with two leafs on some bulbs and one on others I think only time will tell what you have there.
Tednz

[eaglssong]

oh.. that's interesting about two on some but not on others. At least I will know I'm not totally bonkers. LOL I'm going to keep my fingers crossed though, for new flowers. I saw a photo of the flower, and it's spectacular!!

[Molly Taco]

Look like sheaths to me !!!
Cin

[eaglssong]

Look like sheaths to me !!!
Cin

Of course, I don't know how any of you ever can tell the difference. It all looks the same to me!!

[Cjcorner]

Sometimes a catt will send out a second leaf even though it normally only puts one out per p-bulb. But, hybridization has left them fickle...so sometimes you get a second leaf. And as to the not getting sheaths until the p-bulb is mature is a myth...I have two separate plants that grow the sheath as the new p-bulb matures. Go figure!!
My personal opinion...the first two pics look like leafs. The third....Looks Like A Sheath! And I've seen them before! lol Now don't go and do anything silly! Quit misting too often (if you tend to do that) because too much moisture on the sheath will rot the buds growing inside.
Now take a deep breath....it'll be okay....really it will!