Fdk x ctsm from SVO question

[fishmom]

I would re-pot as soon as I see the new bulb emerge, but before roots are present. At that point, the parent bulb is no longer growing larger, and the new growth is taking its strength from the older bulb. Roots on the older bulb become less efficient and important over time, so this timing will minimize any possible damage.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by mook1178

Is it best to repot before the roots from the new growth emerge and risk the damage to the roots that the parent bulb is using

This is the best way to do it. Newer roots are more important than old ones.

Originally Posted by fishmom

I would re-pot as soon as I see the new bulb emerge, but before roots are present. At that point, the parent bulb is no longer growing larger, and the new growth is taking its strength from the older bulb. Roots on the older bulb become less efficient and important over time, so this timing will minimize any possible damage.

[mook1178]

thank you all for your help in understanding what to do when a Ctsm behaves a bit irregularly

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by mook1178

Is it best to repot before the roots from the new growth emerge and risk the damage to the roots that the parent bulb is using or do we wait until the parent bulb is in dormancy and hope to not disturb the new roots? Either way seems to me that there will be root damage, which is better?

Some growers don't repot at all. That is - they don't take the plant out of the pot. If the situation is 1 bulb appears to have gone into dormancy while new growth is starting up, then just let the new growth keep doing its thing.

It was found that when new growth occurs, then the plant is obviously not dormant as such. So - as long as the plant keeps moving along (growing), then just give it a nice warm temperature and good air circulation and decent amount of light - to keep growing. Water very lightly whenever you feel you need to. Remember - because there is new growth, the orchid is not dormant.

A catasetum in the wild isn't going to have somebody take their pseudobulb out and snip roots and put it back in position etc. Sure - they also don't grow in pots in the wild, but we know that nobody is going to be around to do maintenance on their roots that's for sure. Although - we know the snipping is done to avoid pot over-crowding, waterlogging and rotting issues.

[mook1178]

I'm doing this on mobile so we'll see how it posts.

An update to this plant.

It has grown well this summer. However I do have a question. Why did the top half of the bulb fatten up but not the bottom? Is that be cause the new growth started in the late summer early fall?

[fishmom]

It could very well be. The interesting thing will be to see how it behaves next year when you have more control over the growing conditions. It looks really healthy now, though.

[mook1178]

I'm definitely happy with the way it has grown. I had to use a couple of skewers to keep it from gaming over. I used to do that I didn't have to tie them to the beach growth. They kinda cradle it.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by mook1178

I'm doing this on mobile so we'll see how it posts.

An update to this plant.

It has grown well this summer. However I do have a question. Why did the top half of the bulb fatten up but not the bottom? Is that be cause the new growth started in the late summer early fall?

Young plants will often have long space between the bulbs. This is because in nature, the seeds are often buried pretty deeply in the media they find themselves in. They often need to leapfrog their way out of the deep recesses (often where the palm frond connects with the tree) towards the light and you can see this habit still exhibited in some of the hybrids. I suspect you won't see a whole lot of this on subsequent bulbs since the plant is fairly large. However, next spring's growth may be higher on this year's growth than is preferred and you might have to do some awkward potting this spring!

[mook1178]

Originally Posted by isurus79

However, next spring's growth may be higher on this year's growth than is preferred and you might have to do some awkward potting this spring!

I was really hoping that wouldn't be the case.

This leapfrog growth, is that why it started so early last year?

[SouthPark]

Looking forward to see flowers on your plant! I grow a Turning Point ...... not the cross that you have.