Removing Leaves for Uniform Dormancy

[Clawhammer]

Last year I stopped watering my catasetinae on Dec 1st and then I removed all the remaining catasetinae leaves on December 15th regardless of the state of dormancy. I would say 40% of the leaves were remaining when I did this. I did it because I wanted to treat for a pest but also to force uniform dormancy. As far as I can tell the plants all went into dormancy after removing the leaves. None of my 60 or so plants were damaged by this process. It is also easier to strip the bulbs clean when the leaves are removed while still somewhat green.

I just wanted to report that I had no ill effects and in every one of my catasetinae I had as big or bigger p-bulbs and blooms than the year before (not because of leaf removal, in spite of it). Also, all my catasetinae came out of dormancy about the same time and I think the leaf removal played a part in that.

Just wanted to share my experience for fellow control freak catasetinae addicts.

Cheers!

[Ray]

That is very interesting - and not something I would have even considered!

[isurus79]

I used to chop the leaves off every year so that I could bring the plants inside under lights. It worked for me for many years! Here's my oldest son holding the leaves I cut in mid-October 2018.

Catasetum trimming time! by Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis, on Flickr

[nemesis]

OK..Now that actually hurts to see! lol

[Clawhammer]

I think that once the bulbs are fully plumped out the leaves aren't doing much energy creation.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

I think that once the bulbs are fully plumped out the leaves aren't doing much energy creation.

That’s an interesting perspective. It seems to me that “plump” is more related to water, and may have little to do with the stored chemistry, and that continued creation of fuel allows the plant to add-, and adjust it.

But then again, I am wont to chop off anything green.

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Ray

That’s an interesting perspective. It seems to me that “plump” is more related to water, and may have little to do with the stored chemistry, and that continued creation of fuel allows the plant to add-, and adjust it.

But then again, I am wont to chop off anything green.

"Plump" may be the wrong word. I am not talking about shriveled vs inflated by hydration, I am talking about growth. The bulb and leaves growing in size, adding cellular material.

That being said, the plants whose leaves get removed early behave the same as the others who entered dormancy naturally after leaf removal.

Definitely open to other ways to understand the effects of early leaf removal.

By the way, before I did this last year I reached out to Fred Clarke and his perspective was that leaves in December are doing very little for the plant and removing the leaves in the way I did would likely have no negative ramifications.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i grow my catas under a palm and there is white fly on the palm tree....that means by dec the nasty black honeydew dots spot all my plants...the leaves are ugly but i leave them....

maybe this year i'll have an experiment (2022)

[WaterWitchin]

As a brand new grower, I find this fascinating but also don't have the guts to attempt it yet. Baby steps here...