Lctna Mighty Titan - in spike/sheath/bud?

[GirlGoneWild]

Hey all!

I am somewhat new to the world of cattleya orchids (I've only had one bloom for me so far, and it came with buds on it), and I'd like some clarification on what this catt is doing. The picture below shows some new growth, with a little stalk poking up in the middle.



What's the technical term for this? First of all, is the growth with the stalk a pseudobulb or a sheath? Or is it a pseudobulb that's in sheath? I don't really know my cattleya orchid parts...LOL...

Second, the little stalk in the middle seems to be curving over a bit. Is this normal? I am expecting buds to form on it, but I'm worried I might have over-sunned it and that the curvature is a symptom of bud blast. Here's a closer look. (There's no other signs of over-sunning, so I'm hoping this is just how it grows).

http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...w-growth-2.jpg

The name of the plant is Lctna Mighty Titan 'Parkside' AM/AOS. The flowers are going to be a deep red, so I'm hoping the color of the stalk is the way it is because the flowers are red, and not because it's brown from shriveling in the sun. It still seems pliable when I delicately touch it...it's not crispy, so I suppose that's good.

Okay, so is this plant "in sheath?" When do I get to say it's "in bud?" Is it when the actual buds are visible above the sheath?

I'll feel much better once I get all this terminology down! Hehee! Okay...someone tell me what's up with my plant, please!

Thanks as always, friends!

[silken]

Each new growth that comes up from the rhizome and produces leaves or a leaf, depending which type of cattleya it is, is a new growth and will mature and produce a pseudo bulb. That is the round bulb part that the leaves are attached to. Some are more fat, round and pronounced than others. Some are more like plump stems.. They are storage organs for water and nutrients. Yours in the picture aren't real obvious at all. Often when a cattleya blooms, it comes in a sheath. The sheath comes from the centre base of the leaves but looks almost like a leaf. It starts out green and can be large or rather small. Sometimes they turn yellow and brown and others stay green. The buds develop inside and push their way out. Often its a good idea to slit it open to help it and to let air get in there. However, other cattleyas don't produce sheaths and just produce the bloom spike from the same place but bare rather than sheathed.
This looks like what yours has done. It looks to me like a tiny bud that is bent down. I can't say for sure from the photo. I also can't say if it is OK but it looks a bit limp. You may just have to wait and see if it keeps growing. They don't all behave exactly the same. I have had several Catts that at times produce sheaths and other times don't and just a bloom spike. Good luck. If it is healthy, it should continue to grow slowly but fairly obviously over a week or two, you will know.

[GirlGoneWild]

Originally Posted by silken

Each new growth that comes up from the rhizome and produces leaves or a leaf, depending which type of cattleya it is, is a new growth and will mature and produce a pseudo bulb. That is the round bulb part that the leaves are attached to. Some are more fat, round and pronounced than others. Some are more like plump stems.. They are storage organs for water and nutrients. Yours in the picture aren't real obvious at all. Often when a cattleya blooms, it comes in a sheath. The sheath comes from the centre base of the leaves but looks almost like a leaf. It starts out green and can be large or rather small. Sometimes they turn yellow and brown and others stay green. The buds develop inside and push their way out. Often its a good idea to slit it open to help it and to let air get in there. However, other cattleyas don't produce sheaths and just produce the bloom spike from the same place but bare rather than sheathed.
This looks like what yours has done. It looks to me like a tiny bud that is bent down. I can't say for sure from the photo. I also can't say if it is OK but it looks a bit limp. You may just have to wait and see if it keeps growing. They don't all behave exactly the same. I have had several Catts that at times produce sheaths and other times don't and just a bloom spike. Good luck. If it is healthy, it should continue to grow slowly but fairly obviously over a week or two, you will know.

Ahh...thank you for the clarification!! I was rather confused by this orchid!

I'll keep watching it to see what it does. Hopefully it will have some prominent buds on it soon. If not from this growth, then there is a new growth maturing on the opposite side of the plant that will hopefully produce lovely flowers. This one was a "bargain" plant that I got for a mere $2.00...it was pretty sad looking when I bought it, and the roots were in bad shape, but it has been putting out new growths and perking up lately, so I can't really complain even if this spike turns out to be a dud.

At some point I'll divide it and remove some of the scrappy old growth...some of it is so dried up that it looks like the plant isn't even using it any more.

But anyway, thank you for giving such a clear explanation. Now I know what I'm looking at! Hopefully I'll have some pretty bloom pics to share in a few weeks!

Thanks!

[silken]

I hope that spike is alive and growing. If so you should get some pretty pinkish red flowers. If you do divide it, always leave 3 or 4 mature bulbs on a piece or it will take a while to bloom. Those back bulbs support the new growing one.

[Gage]

That looks like a failed spike. It'll eventually bloom for you on another growth.