Help me pick some new mini/micro-Catts!

[DrDawn]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

But if you see a sheath, or an actual spike ------ then that bulb could have good chances to go on towards producing buds and flowers.

Ah, ok, I think I thought the whole new pseudobulb growth was called a sheath, and so I was very sad when it opened and was just... a leaf. But I will (attempt) to be patient and watch the leaf develop - it definitely has a ways to go until it is anywhere close to as long as the other leaves on the plant! And then I will look more closely at where the leaf meets the pseudobulb and keep my fingers VERY crossed!

Thanks so much for the info!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by DrDawn

Ah, ok, I think I thought the whole new pseudobulb growth was called a sheath, and so I was very sad when it opened and was just... a leaf. But I will (attempt) to be patient and watch the leaf develop - it definitely has a ways to go until it is anywhere close to as long as the other leaves on the plant! And then I will look more closely at where the leaf meets the pseudobulb and keep my fingers VERY crossed! Thanks so much for the info!

You're most welcome DD.

I can definitely understand what you mean about 'sheath' - because the outside of a developing leaf certainly has coverings or layers ----- AOS (or people) call those layers 'sheathING bracts'. Any covering layer that surrounds a developing LEAF will be these sheathing bracts. They probably don't consider them as sheaths as such. Sheathing bracts.

Then later, if a cattleya does develop one - a 'pocket' compartment that sort of protects any future developing flower spike or flower buds -------- is a 'sheath'.

I attached some pics here ------ where one of the pics does show an old sheath (all dried up), with both the dried flower spike and the dried sheath snipped off ------ but with still some remnants of the sheath still visible.

Another pic is a photo of a fairly long cattleya leaf. The flower bud is from a different cattleya (not on the plant with the long leaf). And if I peer into that long leaf, I see something ------ maybe it is flower buds and flower spike ----- but not sure yet.

Whatever it is, the feature appears to be not situated right at the base of the leaf.

It doesn't appear to be a 'stub' or whatever it is officially called - which would normally be green-coloured and located in the region where the base of leaf meets the top of the pseudobulb ------ a green stub with no spike and no sheath would mean regular leaf with no flower to be produced.

Some catts can produce seemingly sheath-less flower spikes, as well as sheathed ones.

I mentioned in some other thread that I set the bar high ----- as in, I don't think anything of a sheath or flower spikes or flower buds until almost right at the end when the bud is just about to open. It is a 'will believe it when I see it' approach hahaha.

[JScott]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

You're most welcome DD.

I can definitely understand what you mean about 'sheath' - because the outside of a developing leaf certainly has coverings or layers ----- AOS (or people) call those layers 'sheathING bracts'. Any covering layer that surrounds a developing LEAF will be these sheathing bracts. They probably don't consider them as sheaths as such. Sheathing bracts.

Then later, if a cattleya does develop one - a 'pocket' compartment that sort of protects any future developing flower spike or flower buds -------- is a 'sheath'.

I attached some pics here ------ where one of the pics does show an old sheath (all dried up), with both the dried flower spike and the dried sheath snipped off ------ but with still some remnants of the sheath still visible.

Another pic is a photo of a fairly long cattleya leaf. The flower bud is from a different cattleya (not on the plant with the long leaf). And if I peer into that long leaf, I see something ------ maybe it is flower buds and flower spike ----- but not sure yet.

Whatever it is, the feature appears to be not situated right at the base of the leaf.

It doesn't appear to be a 'stub' or whatever it is officially called - which would normally be green-coloured and located in the region where the base of leaf meets the top of the pseudobulb ------ a green stub with no spike and no sheath would mean regular leaf with no flower to be produced.

Some catts can produce seemingly sheath-less flower spikes, as well as sheathed ones.

I mentioned in some other thread that I set the bar high ----- as in, I don't think anything of a sheath or flower spikes or flower buds until almost right at the end when the bud is just about to open. It is a 'will believe it when I see it' approach hahaha.

I have some plants, like Busy Bev 'Blue Jewel' that NEVER has a sheath. I've also got LC Dinard 'Blue Heaven' (actually one of the parents of Busy Bev) that sometimes has sheathes and sometimes not. But when the growth is mature, you can tell by looking at the point where the leaf meets the pseudobulb whether that growth is going to bloom or no. If it is not going to bloom, there's just a little rounded nub at the apex of the pseudobulb. However if it is going to bloom, you can see a little pointy structure that almost looks like a pointy metten, or maybe like a very tiny sheath just a couple millimeters in size. Do not let the absence of a proper sheath get you down. A lot of plants bloom from sheathless growths. Maybe later when I have time, I can take some pictures to show you what I'm talking about.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by JScott

Do not let the absence of a proper sheath get you down. A lot of plants bloom from sheathless growths. Maybe later when I have time, I can take some pictures to show you what I'm talking about.

You're absolutely right JS! Some catts (a single plant) can develop spikes sheathless at some times, and develop with sheaths at other times. And then there are those ones that always seem to develop sheaths before getting the spikes. And then those ones that always develop spikes without sheaths. Amazing variety and behaviour!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Another pic is a photo of a fairly long cattleya leaf. The flower bud is from a different cattleya (not on the plant with the long leaf). And if I peer into that long leaf, I see something ------ maybe it is flower buds and flower spike ----- but not sure yet. Whatever it is, the feature appears to be not situated right at the base of the leaf.

DD ------ I took a look at the same spot today. Definitely buds coming out from the leaf. This will be sheathless spiking and bud growing. I usually deem sheathless as meaning no unmistakeable and sizeable pocket thing (sheath) that usually remains flat for a while (eg. days or weeks or months) before beginning (hopefully) to bulge at the base to produce buds/spike.