Cattlya experts need advice on this

[jai_star]

This Cattleya orchid is out of bloom now its a Cattleya intermedia var. amethystina x Laelia macrobulbsa , there is a new growth coming at first I thought it is growing its second leaf but on closer inspection it looks more like a sheath however this a bifoliate Catt why is it producing one leaf and a sheath is this abnormal behaviour or is that the second leaf?

[Magnus A]

You have a nice sheath there and I hope it will produce a nice spike for you in near future!

Laelia macrobulbosa is a unifoliate rupicolus Laelia so your plant has a heritige to produce only only leaf. It is normal for hybrides to have growing behavior from both parents and a change in growing condition could trigger change in growing habits.


/M

[jai_star]

Amazing how it changed since I bought it home all the other p.bulbs are bifoliates. Yes I hope the sheath will produce a spike and not be a dud . Also I leave it to dry out before watering this is correct?

You have a nice sheath there and I hope it will produce a nice spike for you in near future!

Laelia macrobulbosa is a unifoliate rupicolus Laelia so your plant has a heritige to produce only only leaf. It is normal for hybrides to have growing behavior from both parents and a change in growing condition could trigger change in growing habits.


/M

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[Magnus A]

Yes, it should dry out between watering.

[Halloamey]

Exactly what Magnus pointed out. In case of hybrids this is very much the case. I have some Sophronitis (now cattleya) and laelia (rupiculous laelias ) which also show a difference in the flower color and shape depending on the season and culture. In the cooler winter rainy season blooms when the media remains moist more often the flowers are more fuller and intense in color like the Sophronitis parent in the background and during the hot summer months they are more like the laelias. I have to document this process yet, but it will be soon.

Amazing how it changed since I bought it home all the other p.bulbs are bifoliates. Yes I hope the sheath will produce a spike and not be a dud . Also I leave it to dry out before watering this is correct?


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[tucker85]

I can't tell if that's a sheath or a second leaf. Mixed hybrids can indeed produce occasional psuedobulbs with single leaves although I find that most bifoliates don't do that very often. It's much more common for a unifoliate plant to produce an occasional psuedobulb with two leaves. If that does turn out to be a sheath, keep in mind that when you cross a plant that blooms in the spring with a plant that blooms in the fall you can sometimes produce free-flowering offspring that bloom twice or more each year. Good luck.

[orchids^_^]

Ditto to Magnus!
Yep, it a sheath! Congrats. because the Laelia parent is unifoliate and the cattleya is bioliate, there are chances that the flower stalk could be out of 1 leaf or two. The growing condition could change the amount of leaves made.

[pavel]

Most definitely a sheath and, as others have said, it is not unheard of for hybrids to switch between production of two leaves to one or vice versa.

[catttan]

Ditto to Magnus and Halloamey.