Hi everyone!
This is my first time posting, though I have been using these boards as a resource since I started growing orchids five years ago and can't thank everyone enough for sharing so generously.
My current issue I'm experiencing involves my Catasetum 'Black Pearl'. This will actually be my fourth season growing it, though it has never bloomed, so obviously I am still trying to perfect it's culture
For the first two years, each seasons' growth was larger than the year before; the plant seemed to grow vigorously, putting down lots of good roots. Around Halloween, it would start to loose it's leaves, finally going completely dormant by Christmas, and would start showing new growth in February. Watering usually starts around early May.
Last year, the new roots just never seemed to grow well; only growing a couple of inches, no matter how long I waited to water. I finally gave up waiting about the end of June, once the back-bulbs had begun to wither badly. It ended up losing it's oldest back bulb, but the rest recovered, eventually. But by the end of the season, the new pseudo-bulb only reached about 1/3 of the size of the previous year's growth.
This year, though the plant seems to have tried to grow a fair number of new roots, many of them have aborted and turned brown at the ends once they reach the dry media, about a month ago now, and new growth of the roots seems to have largely stalled.
My growing situation:
I live in southern Ontario. My Catastetum plants grow indoors, in a fully south-facing window ( in front of sliding patio doors, and the space behind me is a children's play park, so no buildings obstructing the light for quite a space )
I slow my watering in November, completely stopping by mid-December. Generally, I don't resume until the majority of new roots are at least 3" (excepting last year's disaster). I start by watering the opposite side of the pot as the new growth, usually with 1/2tsp of kelp extract mixed in 1cp of water, gradually increasing watering and fertilization as the new growth takes off.
I re-pot in new media each February, once the new growth has started.
I am really not sure what is happening here, and would really appreciate any insight anyone can offer? The back-bulbs are already quite shrivelled-looking, and I think I may have to begin watering lightly, soon, despite the lack of good roots.
This year is looking to be a repeat of last year, and I hate to think that I am going to lose this orchid to slow decline
Catasetum coming out of dormancy and first roots aborted despite dry media?
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