Date: 10/01/2010

The bud sheath of Cattleya is a leaf that fails to unfold prior to emergence of buds. A flower sheath is formed from among the leaves at the top of the new growth. Some Cattleyas do not need a sheath to bloom. The sheath will protect the developing buds and should not be removed.

Cattleys which are young and not fully grown can have incomplete sheaths or no sheaths at all. Rarely there could be double sheaths which could affect the flower inside and a manual opening might be necesssary.

A dried bud sheath will appear brown or dried and could also shield a bud inside and hence should not be removed as much as possible.

Some species of Cattleyas produce sheaths which do not flower for 3 to 6 months.

Blind sheaths are bud sheaths which will never flower. This is encountered infrequently.

Photos: Green bud sheaths of Cattleya Thaiwan Queen. The bud opens itself in a few days as seen on the right.