Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.
Many perks! <...more...>
![](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/closer1.gif)
|
![Old](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/post_old.gif)
05-16-2023, 12:45 PM
|
![isurus79's Avatar](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/avatars/isurus79?dateline=1350428009) |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Zone: 8b
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 44
Posts: 10,281
|
|
Quote:
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.
|
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
|
|
|
![Old](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/post_old.gif)
Yesterday, 12:46 PM
|
![WaterWitchin's Avatar](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/avatars/waterwitchin?dateline=1361120939) |
Administrator
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2011
Zone: 6a
Location: Kansas
Posts: 5,173
|
|
2020 - 2024 The Story Continues
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.
![Smile](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/images/smilies/new/smile.gif)
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? ![Big Grin](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/images/smilies/new/biggrin2.gif)
__________________
Caveat: Everything suggested is based on my environment and culture. Please adjust accordingly.
|
Post Thanks / Like - 2 Likes
|
|
|
![Old](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/post_old.gif)
Today, 01:57 AM
|
![estación seca's Avatar](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/avatars/estaci-n-seca?dateline=1454822151) |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2015
Zone: 9b
Location: Phoenix AZ - Lower Sonoran Desert
Posts: 18,524
|
|
What are your night temperatures in the growing room during normal growing periods?
|
![Old](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/post_old.gif)
Today, 08:46 AM
|
![WaterWitchin's Avatar](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/avatars/waterwitchin?dateline=1361120939) |
Administrator
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2011
Zone: 6a
Location: Kansas
Posts: 5,173
|
|
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.
__________________
Caveat: Everything suggested is based on my environment and culture. Please adjust accordingly.
Last edited by WaterWitchin; Today at 08:49 AM..
|
![Old](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/post_old.gif)
Today, 10:14 AM
|
![isurus79's Avatar](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/avatars/isurus79?dateline=1350428009) |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Zone: 8b
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 44
Posts: 10,281
|
|
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.
|
![Old](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/post_old.gif)
Today, 11:25 AM
|
![WaterWitchin's Avatar](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/avatars/waterwitchin?dateline=1361120939) |
Administrator
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2011
Zone: 6a
Location: Kansas
Posts: 5,173
|
|
Quote:
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.
__________________
Caveat: Everything suggested is based on my environment and culture. Please adjust accordingly.
|
![Old](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/post_old.gif)
Today, 04:09 PM
|
![isurus79's Avatar](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/avatars/isurus79?dateline=1350428009) |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Zone: 8b
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 44
Posts: 10,281
|
|
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?
|
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
|
|
|
![Old](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/post_old.gif)
Today, 04:11 PM
|
![estación seca's Avatar](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/avatars/estaci-n-seca?dateline=1454822151) |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2015
Zone: 9b
Location: Phoenix AZ - Lower Sonoran Desert
Posts: 18,524
|
|
Try one outside next year when nights get over 70 F / 17C.
|
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
|
|
|
![Old](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/orchid/post_old.gif)
Today, 05:53 PM
|
![SADE2020's Avatar](http://www.orchidboard.com/community/avatars/sade2020?dateline=1618838030) |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Palma de Mallorca
Posts: 1,025
|
|
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 🙏☺️😊
__________________
Sade
***Mediterranean Conditions; learning something new every day ***
________________________________________
If you want to check 🔍 my stuff:
www.sadeorchids.com
Instagram
🌿🌸
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 3 (1 members and 2 guests)
|
isurus79
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:20 PM.
|