Why is it waking up? Monnierara millennium magic

[Clawhammer]

I have 63 catasetinae in a very controlled environment and 3 of them have already begun to put out new growths. I agree with the advice given to let them do their thing. Enjoy!

[itzi]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Precisely the right move. No water until that new growth (and its roots if you can see them) are about 4 inches/10 cm. Still at least 2 months, maybe more, to get to that point.

Alright, good to know! At first I was worried it was drying up because it went from green to brown, but upon closer inspection it looks like just the outer sheathe of tiny leaves dried up, and I can still see green beneath them.

[Louis_W]

Keep an eye on that bulb. It will start to wrinkle a little bit but don't worry until it starts getting really shriveled

[isurus79]

I've got a lot of mine waking up now too. The most important time to keep them dry is not so much the dormancy stage, but rather, the stage where the new roots begin to grow!

If the plant is a mature size, wait until the new roots are 4" long before watering. If younger, you can water when the roots a bit smaller.

[itzi]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I've got a lot of mine waking up now too. The most important time to keep them dry is not so much the dormancy stage, but rather, the stage where the new roots begin to grow!

If the plant is a mature size, wait until the new roots are 4" long before watering. If younger, you can water when the roots a bit smaller.

Alright, mine is younger I think, its just one 3" bulb aside from the new growth. I've got it potted up with the PET method which I learned through your channel Stephen, when its time to wake it up do I just drench it or do I start slow and gradually make it wetter?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by itzi

Alright, mine is younger I think, its just one 3" bulb aside from the new growth. I've got it potted up with the PET method which I learned through your channel Stephen, when its time to wake it up do I just drench it or do I start slow and gradually make it wetter?

I know a lot of growers water slowly at first, but I haven't found it necessary. I pour it on full blast when its time to start watering.

[JScott]

My catasetinae regularly start waking up around the end of January and the first of February. I don't think you need to worry.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by itzi

gradually make it wetter?

If the TEMPERATURE is relatively warm - then it's ok to gradually add a little water. Add ----- but up to a limit - which depends on experience.

From my own experience - even a catasetum type plant running on full steam (strong active growing) can drown - if a particular kind of media (eg. sphagnum) gets water-logged and roots don't get enough oxygen. There are always other situations where roots may have adapted to lower oxygen conditions. But --- catasetum roots can certainly drown under certain conditions --- where an effect of it may be leaves turning yellow relatively quickly.

Completely avoid both 'COLD AND wet'.

In GENERAL - growers can get away with adding no water at all until roots reach a certain length. But ----- for some growers that may choose not to add ANY water at all until roots reach a certain length ----- then take a close look at these links here. This goes to show that it's not always beneficial to 'listen' to the 'experts'.

Link 1

Link 2

[SouthPark]

I can also mention that I once encountered an issue with having sphagnum too wet (while the temperature was actually nice and warm) ---- and the leaves began to yellow. And - after unpotting and drying out the sphagnum a bit ---- then using the same sphagnum to repot --- the plant's leaves returned to full green quite quickly - within just a couple of days.

[isurus79]

Maru - There is a lot of great advice over in the Catasetum forum. I just posted an update of my collection's status, which might be useful for you:

Winter Catasetums - January 2022