Catasetum help… when to water?

[Dalachin]

It’s my first spring with a batch of svo catasetinae, seeking advice from all you more experienced growers!

1) (pics 1 and 2) starting with the saddest, this is cynoches pentadactylon. A week ago I washed mites off the tip if the new growth and ran water through the pot out of pity. More water, or withhold?

2) (pic 3) Galeandra greenwoodiana. I admit to running water through this pot last week also. No more water for now?

3) (pic 4) Catamodes darkonium x orchid glade. It has at least one root that is 5 inches and the growth is 12 inches tall. I started watering this one. Probably could have held out longer- but I didn’t. Keep watering?

4) (pic 5) Ctsm pileatum. I have not watered this yet. Since it looks strong I was going to hold out for a bit longer.

5) (pic 6) Ctsm ivanae. I have not watered it, although it worries me that the pseudo bulb is very shriveled and the roots are hanging out at the top of the medium, not digging down.

6) (pic 7) Clowesia Grace Dunn. Yes I know it was probably unwise to fertilize this, but I did it anyway. I have been trickling a little water down near the pseudobulb, avoiding the new roots, to try to help the shriveled bulb. Otherwise keeping it dry. Keep up the life support and keep withholding major watering?

[Roberta]

I would like to see isurus79 weigh in on these, his expertise is a lot better than mine... If they were my plants, I'd defenitely be watring Catamodes Darkonium x Orchidglade (4), I'd lean toward starting gently on 5, 6, 7 I suspect that you can also start gently on the first 2 as well. I have definitely started watering (and fertilizing) Cl. Rebecca Northen - growths not tall yet but developing fast which seems to be their pattern, and startted in lighely on Cl. rosea which also seems to be moving fast. Now, under my conditions all dry out pretty fast so they don't stay very wet unless I really soak them (some of the early Catasetinae that are growing like weeds are getting the full treatment already).

[estación seca]

I can't grow these until I figure out how to keep rats out of my growing area. But when I tried, before beginning watering, I sprayed all new shoots thoroughly, once a week, with 70% alcohol to prevent spider mite damage. It evaporates so fast it doesn't damage roots. By the time you see the damage it is already severe, and that growth probably won't make it.

Same goes for Dendrobiums and new shoots. But those are OK getting wet at any time of the year, so instead of alcohol I spray the entire plant with water. That kills spider mite eggs and knocks down the adult population.

[Dalachin]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I can't grow these until I figure out how to keep rats out of my growing area. But when I tried, before beginning watering, I sprayed all new shoots thoroughly, once a week, with 70% alcohol to prevent spider mite damage. It evaporates so fast it doesn't damage roots. By the time you see the damage it is already severe, and that growth probably won't make it.

Same goes for Dendrobiums and new shoots. But those are OK getting wet at any time of the year, so instead of alcohol I spray the entire plant with water. That kills spider mite eggs and knocks down the adult population.

Great tip. If cynoches gives me another chance I’ll definitely give that a go. I haven’t noticed mites being a problem in my dendrobiums yet, but I’ll keep that in mind.

[Dalachin]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I would like to see isurus79 weigh in on these, his expertise is a lot better than mine... If they were my plants, I'd defenitely be watring Catamodes Darkonium x Orchidglade (4), I'd lean toward starting gently on 5, 6, 7 I suspect that you can also start gently on the first 2 as well. I have definitely started watering (and fertilizing) Cl.

Thank you! I’m gonna go with this, seems right to me.

[isurus79]

I think I'd wait another two weeks to water photo number 4. All others would get water because the roots are long enough or the back bulbs are almost out of energy. I'm a fan of starting the monsoon season quickly for plants with roots that are long enough! Keep 'em wet until November.

[Dalachin]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I think I'd wait another two weeks to water photo number 4. All others would get water because the roots are long enough or the back bulbs are almost out of energy. I'm a fan of starting the monsoon season quickly for plants with roots that are long enough! Keep 'em wet until November.

Great, thanks! I’ll update this post w/ how they do later in the season for anyone who is interested.