cattleya dry sheath

[remo]

Hi guys!
wondering what is the cause of dried sheaths on catts? I have more than one with dried out sheaths and I don't know what to do with them, if anything...pic follows...I beseech thee gurus to help me out here!
A grateful Remo

[Kmac]

1) Has this plant bloomed before? Sometimes a young plant will throw a blind sheath or two before it brings one to flower. (I have buds now on a plant that has done that twice in the past year.)

2) Some catts bloom off of dried sheaths. I have only one that does that, but was quite glad I had left the sheaths alone as I had been advised.

There are probably more reasons, but I think those are the main ones.

[remo]

Thanks for your reply, Kath...there are 6 mature leads on this particular plant and a few of them have dry sheaths. To my knowledge this plant has never thrown a viable bud. That's all I know...
Remo

[Kmac]

Sounds like my Slc Marie Nohova Hollowed 'Abundance' plant. I bought it as "NBS" and I haven't counted, but it has enough mature growths that you would darn sure think it would have bloomed alread,,,but it hasn't. And 2 dry sheaths. Now, suddenly, 3 buds (oh, and they appeared with NO sheath).

I really think they just like to keep us guessing.

[Cjcorner]

Dry sheaths do produce flowers. Hang in there. Some plants shock when you move them from the greenhouse where they were raised, then to the local stores (many of which either over or under water the plants), then again when you buy them their conditions change yet again. I refer to it as sulking. lol Hang in there. I've got a plant that will grow a sheath then another inside that one before it will bloom. Talk about re-learning patience!

[remo]

Thanks everyone...I guess I'll just have to hand in there!
Remo

[panam]

Thanks for this information - I have one doing the same thing and just thought I was killing the poor thing. I'll tell it that we all know now that it's getting ready to wow us!

[wonderlen]

Its depend on the crosses and the parentage. some hybrids bloom after the sheath is dry up and throw up the spikes, and other blooms while the bulbs is matering and all in between. Your plant leaf seem dark for Catts, and might be under light so try increasing it a little bit. Catts blooms best with some red pigments on the leaf (its a way of the plant telling it has enough light).

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Good answers Kathi. And I agree with wonderlen also about the light level. It would not hurt to increase the level just a bit.

Cheers,
BD