catasetum tenebrosum

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by catasetum-ian

thx.
catasetums prefer well drain media for their roots, the need something like 50% shade but can tolerate higher sunlight. i plant my in charcoal media mainly, the only thing for new catasetum collectors is to acknowledge the dormant phase of this genus (when it sheds all the leaves), during this minimal watering is needed and no fertilizer is required. hope it helps.
if you need slightly more basic info, i did scribble some extra noted on growth cycle of catasetums here in my blog

And one more thing, this seems to be individual valued thing by different growers, dormant period, I read somewhere some people totally with held watering till new growth with roots appears in spring, some even take the plant out of potting medium, and you are saying minimal watering, how do you decide? how often you water? when you see sever shrinking maybe? I am in Miami, so there is still lot of humidity, even during winter time, not so bad as summer, but i guess no as dry as north parts of US.

[Bud]

Tommy, go to SVO site (do a google on Sunset Valley Orchids) you will learn a lot from their article.

here is my thread from last autumn where Ian was my last visitor:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...enebrosum.html

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Bud

Tommy, go to SVO site (do a google on Sunset Valley Orchids) you will learn a lot from their article.

here is my thread from last autumn where Ian was my last visitor:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...enebrosum.html

many thanks Bud, will do now:-)

[coz2001]

It's great to see it made it very well I must say :-)

[catasetum-ian]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

I read already about dormant period. I have right side of my balcony, which has either direct afternoon sun (3pm till evening), or filtered at the same spot under the sunblock cloth. Would you recommend to keep it on some afternoon or late afternoon/evening direct sun? or only filtered? I have spots where sun is early afternoon (4pm), or spot where there is only evening sun from cca 6pm till sunset. Other than sun situation I think I am all set, my only issue in past was not enough direct sun or filtered sun, or too much direct sun, so now I am trying always to get some intel ahead:-)

for dormant plant definitely filtered sun, perhaps in the area with early afternoon sun. my area they get the early half of the morning sun. but they are out of reach from the rain. we do not want to over water them during this period. good luck

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Perfect I think I just have a perfect spot for it, filtered afternoon sun under shade cloth, and it will be out of reach from rain, the inside of the balcony does not get rain even when raining heavily so I can be in control of it:-) Bought one yesterday, so it should be on the way to me soon:-) Many thanks for all the tips!!!