Catasetums Not Going Dormant!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by hypostatic

oh wow just watched the video. Don't know how representative of the rest of the collection those are, but that's surprising to me. I have a few plants that are already completely dormant.

Growing up north with such a large swing in day length and temperature give Catasetums unmistakable seasonal cues that can't be misconstrued by the plants! I can definitely see why they'd all be dormant by now. Of note, Bernie Butts in Canada (he runs the best Catasetum group on Facebook) showed his plant status today and they're very close to mine. He grows inside all year and is able to completely control every aspect of his growing conditions.

Originally Posted by Orchid-Obsessed

hello. The video is very informative, thank you for that.

Meanwhile in Canada ... I’m still waiting for my Cycnodes Wine Delight buds to open/bloom...it's grown indoor, but it’s currently -7 c (real feel -17c brrrrr in Alberta) with snow on the ground since last week... I hope the blooms don’t die.

Wow, I grew up in Canada (Ontario and BC) and I don't ever recall such an early blast of cold air! Not gonna lie, I'm glad to be in Texas! lol

[estación seca]

These are my other two, in 3" / 7.5cm pots. They grow in a sunroom with a solid roof, and light through a wall of sliding glass doors. When I don't turn them often enough they grow sideways.



Left is SVO 8108 Catasetum Karen Armstrong (Ctsm. denticulatum 'Dark Spots' x Ctsm. Susan Fuchs 'Burgundy Chips' FCC/AOS).

Right is also from SVO, JH 38 Cycnodes new hybrid (Cyc. warscewiczii 'Leo' AM/AOS x Cycd. Freckled Sweetheart 'Samantha' AM/AOS).

Karen is fully mature, but just began a new root. The Cycd. has a way to go before maturing.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by estación seca

These are my other two, in 3" / 7.5cm pots. They grow in a sunroom with a solid roof, and light through a wall of sliding glass doors. When I don't turn them often enough they grow sideways.

Attachment 148320

Left is SVO 8108 Catasetum Karen Armstrong (Ctsm. denticulatum 'Dark Spots' x Ctsm. Susan Fuchs 'Burgundy Chips' FCC/AOS).

Right is also from SVO, JH 38 Cycnodes new hybrid (Cyc. warscewiczii 'Leo' AM/AOS x Cycd. Freckled Sweetheart 'Samantha' AM/AOS).

Karen is fully mature, but just began a new root. The Cycd. has a way to go before maturing.

Nice! Is that a pond in Phoenix?!

[estación seca]

Yes. I like plants that smell good. Water lilies have amazing fragrances. I built the pond in 1986 when I bought my house, hoping to grow lilies and lotus in it. But our sun is too much for lotus. I would need to grow those in dappled shade on the patio, and dogs find the roots so delicious it is worth a wet face.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Yes. I like plants that smell good. Water lilies have amazing fragrances. I built the pond in 1986 when I bought my house, hoping to grow lilies and lotus in it. But our sun is too much for lotus. I would need to grow those in dappled shade on the patio, and dogs find the roots so delicious it is worth a wet face.

Wow, too cool!

[Dorchid]

So I’ve pretty much quit watering my ctsm types. I grow in a tent so conditions are always fair for growing. Today I noticed the bulbs of my new SVO babies were a bit soft so gave them a good drink. All the mature plants are solid. Thoughts?

[Diane56Victor]

Originally Posted by estación seca

These are my other two, in 3" / 7.5cm pots. They grow in a sunroom with a solid roof, and light through a wall of sliding glass doors. When I don't turn them often enough they grow sideways.

I bought a couple of Catasetums earlier this year. The plants were very small and spent months doing nothing visually. I did repot as the growing intructions suggested after the winter dormancy. They are in net pots, with packed spag. Watering is done minimally, only when the media is dry and only around the edge of the pot.
I did wonder if I was doing it wrong, but in the last few weeks both have produced a new growth.
Now the small new growths on my 2 After Dark 'Black Pearl' are leaning.

How often do you turn to stop the lean?
Would a quarter turn be enough?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Dorchid

So I’ve pretty much quit watering my ctsm types. I grow in a tent so conditions are always fair for growing. Today I noticed the bulbs of my new SVO babies were a bit soft so gave them a good drink. All the mature plants are solid. Thoughts?

Seems like a good strategy to me.

---------- Post added at 03:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:20 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

I bought a couple of Catasetums earlier this year. The plants were very small and spent months doing nothing visually. I did repot as the growing intructions suggested after the winter dormancy. They are in net pots, with packed spag. Watering is done minimally, only when the media is dry and only around the edge of the pot.
I did wonder if I was doing it wrong, but in the last few weeks both have produced a new growth.
Now the small new growths on my 2 After Dark 'Black Pearl' are leaning.

How often do you turn to stop the lean?
Would a quarter turn be enough?

At this stage, I'd suggest no water for a few months. That way you can let those new roots search for water and get nice and long. Early watering can stunt the roots, whereas dry media at this time is a near guarantee of strong root growth.

[Dorchid]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Seems like a good strategy to me.[COLOR="Silver"]

Yeah, they were back to normal today. Guess they may need some sips throughout dormancy.

---------- Post added at 03:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:05 PM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

Seems like a good strategy to me

Yeah, they were back to normal today. Guess they may need some sips throughout dormancy.

[isurus79]

Yep, giving some water through dormancy is ok as long as it dries quickly and the temperature is above 55 degrees. You want bone dry media when the new roots start to grow for several months, so having fat backbulbs at that time is important. Giving sips during dormancy to keep energy reserves topped up generally works well.