Thank you, danny and Kenni! I shall carefully peal off the bract material as
suggested, and I will continue watching the plant's health.
Thanks,
Joanna

"Kenni Judd" wrote in message
...
Joanna: Yes, the shedding is normal. I encourage you to carefully peel
away the remnants, because the bract material has served its good purpose
(protecting the tender new pb) and is now doing nothing more than
providing
hiding places for unwanted "livestock." Be esp. careful down around the
base, where the new "eyes" form.

As far as the new sheath forming before the pb is fully grown -- it may be
normal for your plant, some Catts just bloom that way. Or, it may be a
sign
that the plant's schedule has been a little disrupted [e.g., travel, new
conditions in your care compared to where it lived before]. If the
latter,
it should return to normal by the next blooming.

So far, I don't see any cause for alarm. If this new pb stops growing
altogether, before it reaches or exceeds the height of the pbs "behind"
it,
then I would be mildly concerned [this, too, could be caused by change of
environment]. If the next new growth also tops out small, then I would be
seriously concerned [same principle as each phal leaf should be at least
as
long as the ones below it].
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
http://www.jborchids.com

"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:1Lgwd.6099$mn6.5162@trnddc07...
I have a question about my catt, which is actually an LC if it makes a
difference:

It's newest growth has been rather slim, not much pseudobulb there, but
it
already has a sheath on this growth as well (it cam with two sheaths
when
I
bought it, and the flowers on the a bit older growth are now fading.
This
newest growth developed brown spots on its outer "layer" (or whatever
the
plant's skin is called around the pseudobulb) and then this outer layer
became dry. The upper part of this same growth, the sheath with bud
within,
continues to look green and healthy. Is all this normal? Or is something
wrong? I figure maybe the pseudobulb is developing and as part of this
development process it sheds its outer skin like a snake. :-)

I don't know much about Catts, all I know is that if my Phal or Paph
behaved
that way I would be worried, but I know that this is not a Phal or Paph
so
I
figure maybe it's normal (?).

Thank you for any advice, including more terminology so that I can
describe
this better.

Joanna