A couple of questions

[Catpainter]

Hello all,

I am interested in your thoughts on removing sheaths from Cattleya type orchids when they are dried. I have done this to prevent a harbor for pests, but I wonder if the sheath is kind of like nature's Saran Wrap to help keep moisture in the pseudobulb? Or does it matter. I have such a very dry environment that I wonder if I shouldn't leave them alone.
What do you recommend?

I did a search for "sheath" but wasn't able to locate my particular question.

Thank you in advance..... Catpainter

[Shadeflower]

there was a discussion on this not too long ago.
I think if I remember correctly not that many do it.
The bottom line was don't do it on certain orchids like Maxillarias but on Cattleya's they can actually restrict new growth so I remove the old sheaths.

Another reason I remove the old sheaths is because I find so many times when my sheaths dry they dry nice and even but when I get dried sheaths from the shop they have black spots all over them like they have been attacked by a fungus. So I remove them, do a fresh repot and future sheaths just dry up and don't go all black and spotty.

So yes sheaths to me just prevent light hitting the stems which can photosynthesyse light, pests hide in them regularly and they are prone to harbour fungal spores too imo.

Since the last discussion I decided to experiment with a maxillaria tenuifolia I had resigned to thinking I just could not revive after receiving it in the post last year (in the worst condition ever) The sheaths were all dried up and layered over each other, the roots underneath them were all dry and falling to pieces but I did not touch the sheaths.
The plant produced some new bulbs about half the size of previous bulbs and no sign of improving so.. I removed several layers of dried sheaths to let the stem breath a bit (something one should never do with Maxiallaria's as I've been told but I thought I'd test it)
Surprisingly within less than a month of expsing the stem from all sheaths, finally after months and months the plant has woken up and has started producing new root tips. So I am also going to do it with Maxillaria's in future. Roots dry when the Orchid overall loses too much moisture, when one doesn't water it in time and it dries out too long for example and I know one is supposed to protect air roots from drying out but I have not found that to be an issue as long a the orchid overall is never let to fully dry out.

You will find lots have a different viewpoint to this and like mentioned would never touch a maxiallaria sheath so I think you need to just decide for yourself which you prefer.

Having done it religiously on pretty much all my orchids including Vanda's I can say that it free's the plants and helps them grow better - but I should also add a warning that I have serisouly damaged several orchids by not being careful. A dried sheath can act like a sharp knife and literally cut into or break off a new growth as you remove it so it helps to wet the sheath first and let it get soft first but even then sometimes it is better to leave it alone than to damage a new growth.

I don't think I have done an excessive amount of damage and nothing the plants could not recover from and I feel I had to to learn how beneficial it can actually be to not have the sheaths constrict the Orchids but I did damage some new growth setting some plants back a bit too doing so.

[Catpainter]

Thank you for this info! I agree about the black spotty nasty looking ones, they are ugly and that did motivate me to lean toward removing them also. As you said, sometimes experience is the best teacher, as long as you are being careful its ok to try and see what happens. Good luck with the Maxillaria tenufolia! I have purchased one and waiting for delivery. I purchased the yellow form, can't wait to experience its wonderful scent!

[Roberta]

One caution about removing those old leaf bracts on Catts... once they are dry, you can remove them, and probably should (they give a place for nasty things like scale to hide). But don't be in a hurry... depending on the exact parentage, they may stay firmly attached to the pseudobulb for awhile after the leaf and pseudobulb have matured, and removing them can damage the pseudobulb underneath. Some dry up quickly... If it comes off easily, you're safe. If it gives any resistance, or sign that it is still attached, leave it until it dries.

[estación seca]

I leave mine on to prevent sunburn. That's a bigger risk here than pests.