Catasetum late season growths, or spikes?

[JScott]

I'm so disappointed in myself this year. I started watering my FDK After Dark 'SVO Balck Pearl' too early. I suspected it was too early, but I did it anyway. The roots started to grow, and then just stopped.

The new growth is much smaller than the previous one, and I doubt it will bloom this year. The plant will certainly live, and next year I will do better and the new growth will be back up to its normal size, but I'm so mad that i did that, and now I'm probably going to miss a year's blooms. I don't know what I was thinking. I certainly know better.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by JScott

I don't know what I was thinking. I certainly know better.

The hardest thing about growing Catasetinae is to resist the urge to start watering when you see that tempting new growth. It's against every orchid growers, deepest instincts. So we've all done it... Resist!