Cattleya -- Soggy sheath

[OrchidTraci]

One of the sheaths on my catt is a biy soggy from when I did the division. Does anyone recommend removing it so the spike (which I am not exactly sure if it has on in the sheath) doesn't rot? I'm not to familiar with the whole catt- sheath issue.

[mattbrown]

i leave them on. they tend to just dry up w/ out any ill effect. if you don't like the way it looks though, you can try to pull it off or cut it off. you may want to pull it so that it splits open down to the base (-like peeling a banana) then cut each half. that way you are not cutting around the stem. good luck.

[MikeWA]

Some of the larger blooming Catts have a tendency to have their sheaths rot the PB. Especially in GH like conditions. After working in a nursery for a while I have really not noticed a dpwnside to taking scissors to the top of the sheath and peeling it down like a banana. I have not noticed any bud blast from it.

If you not sure it has a spike then I am sure it will dry out before the spike forms. I don't think there is a set rule or a constant result. I don't think I have seen the spikes rot before the buds start to form in the sheath. Typically the buds start to form and then the rot happens.

To peel or not to peel, that is the question!

JMO

[mattbrown]

my catts. are outside year round(south fla.) that may be why i haven't had the rot problem.

[OrchidTraci]

Thanks for your replies gents, I never got notices that there were replies . Anyhoo, I sliced it and took off 1/2 of it so far, it was soaking nasty wet inside so I'm glad I did it. It appears as if a few other sheathes may have been removed by the previous owner, because I'm noticing growth off the top of some of the newest mature pb's. I guess I shouldn't have worried so much.

[LJA]

Traci, it never hurts if you notice wetness inside Catt bud sheaths to open them and let a little air circulate. If moisture has condensed in there, it very often can blast the developing buds, especially if you get a suddenly cool change in the weather.