Cattleya Flower Sheath

[allaKAZAAM]

I have looked almost everywhere on the net that I can think of, and only my one book actually gives advice on the Cattleya Flower Sheaths.
SO I will ask here (unless someone can point me in the right direction!).
I recently purchased a C. jenmanii with 2 out of 3 new growths with flower sheaths (the one is about ready to flower).
My question is...do I remove the flower sheath or just let the flower push through the sheath?
I have read the threads (on this forum) about C. flower sheath rot /or drop. I am concerned about this since this is an orchid I have been looking for awhile now...and finally found it!
..though I wasn't expecting it to be such a MONSTER sized orchid...causing me some issues on WHERE to put it!
Anyway, I really DON'T want to loose the flowers I have been looking SSSSSSSssssoooooooooooooooooo forward to seeing.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated (BTW, the sheaths are healthy and green, maybe a little of black tarry stuff...which I assume is the "sugar" they produce). Other than that the orchid is very healthy. I will take some PICS ( ) ASAP, and post. For you all to see the state of the sheaths.
Thanks!
Mark

[allaKAZAAM]

As I said..lol..ASAP!
So here is the "main" sheath that looks almost ready to exit it's sheath (both sides of the sheath).
Thanks again for all your help OB!

Mark






Sorry about the "Yellowness" of the , didn' take under ideal lighting.

[Oscarman]

Mark, it looks like you have a sheath within a sheath. I don't think double sheaths are particularily rare, but I am no Catt expert.

If it were mine, I might be tempted to remove the outer sheath, but would not do anything until the buds start to develop and swell within. I have had to split open Catt sheaths in the past, to free stuck buds.

[kiki-do]

Hi Mark,
I was told by an orchid grower that they usually pop through themselves, but if you see the good size shadow of the bud within, it's okay to snip off across just the very top of the sheathe and help it out a bit. Sometimes they have a hard time to poke through by themselves. I have only done this once, actually. I was afraid it was struggling and it was a young catt. and seemed to be taking forever to poke through. It seem to help it along. I hope this is okay information...but that is what I was told. kiki-do

[Lagoon]

Yep looks like double your trouble, LOL!
I would remove the first sheath but not the second, or atlease thats how it appears to me - 2 sheaths.
The bud still looks small tho'.

G'luck with your catt!

[nenella]

I agree it looks like a double sheath! I would wait for it to swell a bit more before cutting the outer one.

[allaKAZAAM]

Thanks for the responses all!

I will leave them both on for now and when the bud gets a little more "dense", I will remove the outer sheath.

If anyone knows some great links on Cattleya growing methods/flowering info...I would be much obliged to getting the info (not sure if it is my orchid addiction to want to know MORE about what I have and how to take the best care for them...or just my usual self...since, when I get involved in something, I do it to the fullest extent...never half @$$ed).



Mark