First Catasetums

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Really? Soak them? I thought wasn't supposed to water until they had new growth, 4" roots, etc.??

If you really do mean get them wet and then cease watering again, I'll sure give it a try.

Oh ya! Not watering for months on end is a broad spectrum suggestion for a very large group of species and hybrids, with plenty of room for exception. There are two primary reasons for not watering during dormancy:

1. Water plus cold temps (below 55F) can initiate rot. I'm not sure of the mechanism, but water plus cold seems to trigger rot in dormant Catasetinae. I often wonder if the dormant plant has shut down some of its disease fighting capabilities during this period, but that's just conjecture. In your case, temps are warm so cold-triggered rot is unlikely.

2. The new roots seem to stop growing when they touch wet media if they're are small. You don't have new roots to worry about, so this isn't a problem.

Without at least some water, the plants won't have the reserves to initiate and complete their new growth.

[WaterWitchin]

The continuing saga of WW and a go at growing catasetum. Here we are four years since the tale began.

• 2020 survival mode.
  
• 2021 one out of five bloomed. Chuck Taylor (Chuck ain't doing too well now)
  
• 2022 the year of discovering spider mites for the first time; no blooming.
  
• 2023 One spike with maybe three blooms on it. Not spectacular because I never took a picture. Wasn't Chuck, but not sure which one. Sure looked similar but more yellow. Probably Chuck's the father.

Now in 2024 I'm still struggling, or rather the catasetum are under my culture. Still the original four SVO hybrids, now minus one, and my lone species fimbriatum who got a rough start. [note: don't shop with OrchidAmore.]

One hybrid didn't survive and got pitched middle of this summer. Chuck Taylor, my first bloomer ever, and only bloomed the one time, looks pathetic. Barely put out a little teeny growth with a couple leaves about three inches tall, then it just went kaput, looks like it won't survive. Just kept getting smaller and smaller each year.



Another looks pathetic and unlikely to survive. See how it's also got a smaller and smaller pbulb each year?



One that looks halfway decent, although again getting smaller and smaller, and has some buds getting ready to pop out. I think it might be the one that unspectacularly bloomed in 2023. Another that keeps getting smaller and smaller.



However, my fimbriatum bloomed for the first time! Pretty darned exciting... and absolutely impossible for me to photograph. I finally propped it up on a stake just so I could take a decent picture of the flowers. Getting too hard to lay down on the floor, or rather get back up once I'm down.







I'm keeping them watered, I'm fertilizing with nutrikote, a little KLite, and once a month Kelpak. Any idea from those of you who grow these suckers well as to what my problem might be? Or maybe I need to get another species instead of hybrid?

[estación seca]

What are your night temperatures in the growing room during normal growing periods?

[WaterWitchin]

Averages around 70-80+ at night in summer. Spring and fall 65 +/- at night.

Thinking maybe I need to do a second watering mid-winter, around February.

[isurus79]

Honestly, I think the high water level and the spag are combining to keep those plants too wet. The water should only reach the bottom inch or so media and that media should be inorganic.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Honestly, I think the high water level and the spag are combining to keep those plants too wet. The water should only reach the bottom inch or so media and that media should be inorganic.

Deceiving pictures, Steve. Had just watered when taking the pics. The inside container is SH method with hole about 2" from bottom, filled with LECA to about 3+/- inches in the pot, then medium orchiata, then a top layer of sphag around 1". After watering, I tip over pot and leave water about a half inch above the hole. Water about every 7-10 days depending. Does that change your advice?

Having said that, I'm all ears to hear anything that might be causing the smaller bulb each year. Last year (a ways back on the thread) I was showing pics of the dehydration of the bulbs and you advised me to give a winter drink, which I'd never done before. I did so, but was thinking maybe need to do a second drink this upcoming dormancy. Also, think I should refresh the medium as they've been in same pots since I first potted in 2020.

---------- Post added at 10:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 AM ----------

PS Scroll back up and look at what they looked like in spring of 2023.

[isurus79]

Ok, good! Yes, a change in media might be in order next year.

---------- Post added at 03:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:07 PM ----------

What supplemental lighting do they get?

[estación seca]

Try one outside next year when nights get over 70 F / 17C.

[SADE2020]

Hi WW ..long time no talk to you!
Hope your are doing well.
About two years ago, you advised me to get a cata, saying it seemed like the kind of plant I would enjoy. And indeed, I did, and each spring it sprouts, and by late autumn, it blooms. I only stop watering it in January and February. It’s outdoors, and in winter, temperatures drop to 5°C in January, although it’s always sunny, which gives it that touch of cold that I believe is key to its development. In summer, temperatures rise to 35°C, and this year they even reached 40°C. I have it in sphagnum substrate, and honestly, I don’t pay it much attention, is an easy growing for me.

Thank you for the advice 🙏☺️😊

[WaterWitchin]

Steve... in front of full length windows on southwest corner, supplemented by LED light strip started hanging about six inches above, moved up as plant leaves get bigger on 12 hour timer. A good time to repot would be in the February range, right?

ES... I could try that next year with a couple of them, but they get good light anyway minus bug issues, so hesitate

Sade... LOL, I'm doing fine and happy your cata grows well for you. I figured you'd have a good climate to grow them. Mine go from around 12C up to 40C during growth season. Definitely too radical difference in temps here to grow outside year 'round.