Got my Catasetum today, now what?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dave 4u

I'm hoping with the dormant cycle the catasetum might just be better suited to my limited conditions and I'm certainly willing to try it!

One of the nice things about the Catasetinae is that in winter, when they are dormant, they don't take up much space, and basically don't need anything. (Fred Clarke tells the story of a customer in New York who thought the bare pseudobulb was dead, tossed it over her shoulder where it rolled under the couch. She found it when she was "Spring cleaning" - to find that it was happily sprouting) Once night temperatures are over about 55 deg F (13 deg C) they do fine outside (benefitting from the extra light that they can get) and there's room for those big leaves. And if leaves get damaged (bugs, sunburn, other insults) you only have to look at them for a few months, unlike other types like Catts and Phals that, once damaged, stay ugly for a long time. The Catasetinae reinvent themselves every year.

[WaterWitchin]

I successfully grew vanda (2) for quite some time, then spaced them out soaking in a rain barrel for days and lost one to rot. The other is starting to recover, has a couple of leaves. It sits in a large vase and gets misted three times a day by my MistKing.

ES... what would one look for in the smaller hybrid vandas? Like what sort of key words would I google?

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[Dr. Dave 4u]

Thanks...about the photos...nice memories!!
WE hung them outside in the sun and my wife loved the beautiful colors as they glowed in the sun. Just for the one time pleasure it was worth it but i felt bad as they slowly died in winter.

Vandas are not on my list now unless the wife wants a vanda in spike instead of an expensive flower arrangement this summer!!
Still hate to see it die off though...

Didn't I once read someplace that us northerners can mail our vandas to some Florida guy and he will board them through the winter and have them ready for a another blooming season in summer!

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Roberta

One of the nice things about the Catasetinae is that in winter, when they are dormant, they don't take up much space, and basically don't need anything. (Fred Clarke tells the story of a customer in New York who thought the bare pseudobulb was dead, tossed it over her shoulder where it rolled under the couch. She found it when she was "Spring cleaning" - to find that it was happily sprouting) Once night temperatures are over about 55 deg F (13 deg C) they do fine outside (benefitting from the extra light that they can get) and there's room for those big leaves. And if leaves get damaged (bugs, sunburn, other insults) you only have to look at them for a few months, unlike other types like Catts and Phals that, once damaged, stay ugly for a long time. The Catasetinae reinvent themselves every year.

Having not grown them before, and having no idea why, I'm really looking forward to this year. I repotted them a couple of days ago, and they just sit around like slugs as they have all winter long. So easy to repot it was stupid simple. If these guys do well this year, I think I'm gonna LOVE growing them and get rid of some other stuff to make room for more.

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

ES... what would one look for in the smaller hybrid vandas? Like what sort of key words would I google?

Not ES, but Vanda coerulea and Vanda cristata are pretty hardy, stay compact and bloom when small.

There's also a miniature version of V. merrillii.

[Dr. Dave 4u]

Thanks
but I better not try them , I'm buying too much already!!

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Not ES, but Vanda coerulea and Vanda cristata are pretty hardy, stay compact and bloom when small.

There's also a miniature version of V. merrillii.

Excellent! Good start! Gracias

---------- Post added at 02:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:13 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Dr. Dave 4u

Thanks
but I better not try them , I'm buying too much already!!

I'm asking for ME, not you DrDave!

[estación seca]

Motes has a number of small Vanda hybrids, including ones with cristata in the background. They're having a sale today if you get the newsletter and the featured code.