Cattleya Alma Kee 'Tipmalee' disappointed

[fhayes]

I purchased this plant and it arrived with 3 leaves and 4 had been cut off the bulb (or sheaths). Is this normal and will the plant recover? Thanks.This is a Cattleya-Alma Kee, 'Tipmalee' (AM/MOS Pot Pack) orchid.

[cakedaddy]

How do the roots look? Some sellers routinely take old leaves off of plants so that they will look more presentable.
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[rosie]

Yes it will, usually vendors cut off old leaves, or badly eaten leaves. How were the roots?I have been given numerous orchids from an old friend. He cuts off all roots, usually only 3 pseudobulbs, and they survived. Never lost one. Off course, this sets them back another 1 - 2 years, and they usually have to be anchored in pots with rhyzome clips. But your orchid will survive. The remaining bulbs look healthy. What have you got this orchid growing in? Is there enough holes in that plastic pot? They must drain very freely with lots of air around pots.

[fhayes]

Thanks for your feedback. I received the orchid Friday and it came in a clear plastic planter. It is setting loosely in the clay pot just to take the photo. I haven't checked the plants roots yet as I wanted to give the plant time to recover from shipping. The vender I bought it from said it was blooming size plant. I am learning my lesson about buying orchids. Thanks all, Floyd

[pavel]

That very well could be a blooming size plant, Floyd. If the roots are in good shape, then transport will not prove to be a set back at all.

[tucker85]

The orchid looks like a normal healthy blooming size cattleya to me. A few leafless pseudobulbs is pretty normal for cattleyas. I would leave the leafless pseudobulbs in place because they contribute to the water and nutrient storage capability of the plant. By the way I've had Alma Kee 'Tipmalee' for years and it's one of the finest yellow cattleyas with the red lip available. Good luck.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Looks like a healthy, mature orchid to me.

cheers,
BD

[PaphMadMan]

If any further reassurance is needed, that looks like a normal healthy blooming size Catt to me too. There really is no cause for concern or disappointment with its appearance unless it clearly doesn't match up with a description or picture that was supposed to represent it. Always a good idea to check the roots, of course.