Why is it waking up? Monnierara millennium magic

[Maru777]

My first ever catasinae and I am so rubbish with it. I read all the care instructions I could but then it goes and goes off script just for giggles. This plant! It went into dormancy towards the end of October, somehow. It just dropped it leaves one by one, I stopped watering and I moved it inside the house because the screened porch it was on would have gotten it rained on. I hate the cold so while my house is much drier than outside, so about 50-60% humidity compared to the 80% outside, it is not much cooler - say a more even 27C compared to 30+C outside. I left for a month and the friend who watered the rest of them knew not to touch this one, but I came back and it’s growing a new growth. I thought it was not supposed to do that now? Last year it started to grow end of March and took its sweet time. I moved it outside now but not watering still. What did I do wrong? Why is it awake at this time? Will it affect its growth that it’s so early? Thank you!

[Roberta]

Nothing wrong... these do what they want to do. If it went dormant a bit early, it may be thinking of waking up a bit early, Just don't rush to water - let the new growth get big... 10 cm ( 4 inches) or so, well opened-out before you even think of watering it. So that will still be 2 months or more. Better to wait a little longer than necessary than to start to water too soon. Don't worry about temperature or humidity. Just ignore it,

[Leafmite]

I agree. Just go with it. I should probably take a look at my dormant Cync. to make certain it is behaving as it should be....

[SouthPark]

Depending on the temperature ----- if warm conditions are maintained, then orchids like this sort can even come out of dormancy as early as a few weeks (as an example only - can probably even be less than that) after 'dormancy' started.

[Louis_W]

I just noticed a catasetum doing the same thing. I'm just gonna pretend it's spring and hope I
Get an extra long season of growth for this one. Perhaps two growths? At any rate I'm gonna do the usual thing where you wait to water until there is a good
Root system. Mine are inside in a south window so they should be happy.

[Roberta]

Those new little growths will tease you. By the time that they are big enough to water, it will be spring...

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

At any rate I'm gonna do the usual thing where you wait to water until there is a good
root system.

That is workable. One note - from my own experience - is that when the temperature isn't in the relatively 'cold' range, then roots actually don't get negatively impacted - provided that the roots don't drown in media that is too soggy - that can lead to root oxygen starvation.

This doesn't mean telling people to water the plant when it is coming out of dormancy (or when roots are less than 'x' cm in length etc). It is only for dispelling myths about water on 'new' roots will kill or stunt new roots.

[Louis_W]

Southpark, I'm a little unclear on your point. Are you saying it's OK to water as long as the Temps are high? I am open to all info, so if you think I am perpetuating a myth please elaborate.

Personally, I don't water dor a very long time for two reasons:

the plants don't seem to need water for many weeks or months after they start growing

And my roots tend to stop growing when I begin
watering so I wait as long as I can bear it.

[itzi]

I've also got an MMM with a tiny growth, about 1/2" an inch, coming out from the base. No new roots from what I can tell. I've just been leaving it dry, which I hope is the right move!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by itzi

I've also got an MMM with a tiny growth, about 1/2" an inch, coming out from the base. No new roots from what I can tell. I've just been leaving it dry, which I hope is the right move!

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.