What should I do with this Catasetum I got?

[TheCook_66]

So yesterday my friend gave me a small Catasetum orchid, it's potted in a small soft pot as you can see in the picture. It has a small growth and some roots, it seems that this orchid has been wet for... quite a long time, so, what should I do with it? Should I repot it, or let it be?

[TheCook_66]

Just realized that it also has a veeery tiny rotten pseudobulb... lol

[tmoney]

oooh, this is a tricky little orchid puzzle! so many factors to consider!

keep in mind we are total beginners, and we only have a couple catasetums....but looking at the media, and the pot, my speculation is that it was with a nursery grower situation until recently. which means they probly brought it out of dormancy on a schedule.

that being my assumption, and the fact that you can't see any new growing roots thru the moss, my first inclination would be to leave it in the pot this summer. if its already wet it means its been watered, so you probly shouldn't stop watering. keep watering it a lot, feed it generously, and give it light.

my im hoping the more experienced folks will come by and offer their opinions! its also fun to see if my thoughts are starting to align more with the experienced growers, so i am eagerly awaiting their responses as well!

what a fun mystery nice plant, btw

[Roberta]

Don't worry about that little shriveled p-bulb. It's likely the original. There is a nice fat p-bulb, producing that new growth. I'd wait a bit more before watering. If you are already watering, do it very lightly. Let the new growth get bigger, then when in full growth water and fertilize all summer. DON'T REPOT! (You could just cut the plastic pot,put into a larger one and fill in with bark or sphagnum, just don't disturb roots) It may seriously outgrow the pot, don't worry... just drop into a larger, heavier pot to keep it from falling over. It will lose leaves in the fall, when watering is reduced and then stopped. Repotting time is when it is dormant, in winter.

Search the Catasetinae sub-forum for notes from isurus79 - he has made some videos, and there are lots of notes on Catasetinae culture. -