Clowesia dodsoniana : problem ending dormancy

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Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Ouch. If you haven't, I strongly recommend you go to Sunset Valley Orchids Web site, and look for the cultivation information on Catasetinae, the group to which Clowesia belongs.

They are triggered to grow by rising humidity and temperature in spring. Watering too soon is trouble for them. Roots should each be 3-4" long, or more, before any watering. Watering earlier may kill the new growth.

The only time they may be safely divided is during full dormancy. Don't try to divide if you see any leaves or new shoots. When you divide, keep at least 2 very large or 3 smaller leafless pseudobulbs in the division.

I strongly recommend not cutting off old roots from these plants until you can grow them well.

New growths from the apex generally happen because the base of the plant may be dead, and normal growth points at the base are gone. They are sprouting because the normal sprouting points are all dead.

Separating growths from the pseudobulb the same season they sprout is almost never successful and should not be done. When one of these runs into trouble and starts pushing growth from upper parts of old pseudobulbs, you often have only one chance to keep it alive.

I concur with what SaraJean has said about placing it on sphagnum moss. Keep it as warm and humid as you can. And later, be on constant watch for spider mite attack.