Dividing Catasetinae

[Nokomis.FL]

Is there a rule of thumb about when to divide a Catasetum or Cycnoches? I have several with at least 5 BIG bulbs and was wondering if it would be feasible to start dividing. I'd leave at least two to three bulbs on each division.

Thanks.

Bill

[neb]

I have no personal experience but on the Carter and Holms website you should pot a single bulb
"...take a single bulb (If plant has more than one bulb, make several plants of it, for it will break leads only on the newest bulb even if left together.)... "
Cycnoches and Catasetum Orchid Care - Carter and Holmes Orchids Culture
they are experts and I would trust what they say

[Nokomis.FL]

I've read that page before, actually have it bookmarked, but I've read other sources that claim you need more bulbs to get bigger new bulbs. Arthur Holst in his book, The World of Catasetums, says you should not divide unless there are at least 5 bulbs and each division should maintain at least two to three bulbs depending on their size.

I was looking to see what success or or other experiences folks here may have had. I am tending to lean toward a '2 Bulb Minimum' if possible for any future divisions as my experience has shown that one bulb really seems to shrivel and the new growths don't grow as big as the original bulb. This is a rule of thumb but seems especially true with smaller plants.

[kavanaru]

Hi Bill,

normally, the rule is that you should have at least 3-5 pseudo-bulbs (PBs) per division, and this rule applies to most orchids... Catasetinae can be a especial case though...

If you have large, mature PBs, you could actually grow a new plant from each single PB (especially, if they are not too old!) I have done myself with Catasetum, and works very fine. Negative point: your new plant will skip one or two year of flowering if the PB was too old or not mature or mature but not in good shape (a bit dehydrated!)

The advice from Holst, is a good one, because it stays on the "safe" side... however, you can really trust C&H too... The golden rule is, as said before: healthy, large, mature PBs

Keep in mind, that Catasetum tends to have several PBs in one single plant, while Cycnoches and Cycnodes normally have only 2 or 3 PBs (that's something intrinsic of the genus)

Something I have noticed, is that when growing Catasetinae in semi-hydro, the old PBs normally do not shrivel that much or not at all, letting you more "play room" for division!


P.S.- I do not provide info about Mormodes or Clowesia, as I do not grow them... I just recently acquired two Clowesetum, but am still a newbie with them (howeevr, they should behave similiarly)