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Cattleya question

10 years ago

I recently bought a cattleya and an oncidium. Both had buds. The oncidium is very nice. All the buds are open and it's a nice spike of flowers.

But the cattleya looks odd. There were two buds on separate pseudobulbs. Both were in sheaths. One of them just turned brown and a little mushy and never opened. It has since dried and fallen off. The other bud looked like is was going to open normally, but it has stayed partly within the sheath, and while it has all the color and fragrance, it isn't very showy and can't seem to full expand the way it would if it was out and above that green sheath. Is this normal for these plants, or did I just get a reject or something?

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Comments (3)

shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
10 years ago
Pictures are very helpful with your questions. It is really very easy to post on this site. You would get more accurate answers with pictures. And you will get more responses also. It makes it easier on both of us. Thanks.
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
10 years ago
Hi Bill! Nice to see you over here from the New England forum :)

I agree with Harvey - please post a photo! It helps tremendously! Where did you get your new plants?
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jane__ny
10 years ago
Agree, a picture would help. Just guessing I would say the change in growing conditions probably caused the plant to abort the buds. It can happen when you buy a plant in bud.

Best chance is to keep the plant healthy while it adjusts to your growing conditions and you will have to wait another year for those flowers.

Jane

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