Catasetum Advice - Post Dormant Period

[Corsetière]

I have a Fdk After Dark 'Sunset Valley Orchids' which a I bought at a orchid show. When I bought it, it was a robust looking plant with 4 pbulbs and so much root growth that it looked like it was about to crawl out of the pot. i got it home and once I depotted it I could smell a strong odor of rotten vegetation. Sure enough there were tons of dead roots sandwiched together with some decaying sphagnum, forming an impenetrable network that would be impossible to detangle. It's like a solid brick near the base of them plant. The plant was forming two spikes so I went ahead and trimmed the dead roots that I could reach, rinsed the root mass as best I could, and poured hydrogen peroxide on the roots.



The plants leaves are still green and I am awaiting its rest period, but I am wondering if when it goes into it's rest period, should I try to cut off the rest of the dead roots? I feel like something should be done for the plant's health but I am not sure when I should do it or how severely to cut back the dead growth. I know the new growth will begin in spring and I don't want the new growth further tangling in to these matted dead roots. Does anyone have experience in this?

[Bud]

If there is healthy leaves and spikes still forming= then put it back in the pot and continue watering regimen+ good lighting, humidity and air movement....that plant is not resting until it finishes all its blooms and loses all its leaves. The dead decaying roots is from the old canes of last year's cycle, its best to trim the roots in half and remove decayed rotting roots when the plant is at rest....

[Corsetière]

Unfortunately the top heavy plant toppled over and both spikes broke off a few weeks ago but the leaves are still green so I will wait patiently and see what happens next. Quel dommage! The triumphs and heartbreaks of orchid growing..... Once the leaves fall I will see if I can trim the dead material better.

[Bud]

I am sorry your spikes broke off....this might signal the plant to form another new spike if there is enough energy. Do not do anything that will induce rest if its not yet time to do it....the roots of the old canes rot and decay so it is always advisable to cut all in half during rest....you need not disturb it and distress it now....you may also separate the plant into two pots during rest period....some growers separate them into single canes during rest to get new growths from each cane.

[Corsetière]

Thanks, I felt like an ass when they broke off. I should have known better! Live and learn, yes?
Hmmm...I was wondering if it might try again to produce a spike. *fingers crossed*

When you say "cut all in half during rest", do you mean just trim off approximately half of the roots starting at the bottom?

And is it pretty much the same rule for plants with pseudobulbs, do you want approx. 3 bulb per planting/container?

[Bud]

please do not fuss over your plant unnecessarily....this kind of plant you just unpot at winter rest and then leave them alone with no water in a bright warm place until it gives you new growth, then you can repot and continue water and fertilizer regimen....these plants are a no fuss plants at all....but it needs a lot of patience in leaving it be....since this plant is not yet in rest then pot it once again and continue the culture until all the leaves fall off....who knows you might get another spike ....do not worry about dead roots now....you can clean all that during the rest period.

---------- Post added at 04:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------

some growers put a single cane in a pot and it produces new growths that will flower....this is not like other bulbs where you pot three back bulbs and a new growth in a pot.

at rest= the roots of these kind of orchid will just decay...all of them....so I just cut it all in half....BUT=the new roots of the new growth is the one you must nurture.... as you can see the old roots of last year is all decayed....

[kindrag23]

Does this go for all FDK after darks? That you un pot them and place them?

[Bud]

All my Catasetinae plants during dormant period(not just my FDK after dark)=I unpot it and clean and cut the roots and put them is a humid bright warm place to let it rest inside an empty clay pot to hold it upright....or else the new growth will grow parallel to the upright old bulb....
*no water or fertilizer until I see the new growth appear and wait until it is grown into a 5 inches plant or it produces at least 3 inches roots....then and only then will I repot it and continue water and fertilizer regimen
I saw five canes in the picture= you have a choice to divide it into five canes each potted individually or divide it into two pots with two cane in one and three in another....

[Corsetière]

Ooooooooooh! This is an exciting possibility! Thanks, Bud!

[Bud]

I am not an expert on Catasetinae....but I try my best to grow it well....I suggest you go to the Sunset Valley Orchid site and find their culture on Catasetinae:
or find threads of one of our member= kavanaru(Ramón) he is a European who worked and did research in a Catasetinae farm in South America and has a lot of experience in growing different kinds of Catasetinae.

---------- Post added at 05:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:55 PM ----------

FDK After Dark posted by kavanaru(Ramón) recently:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...l-fcc-aos.html