First Catasetum, still sleeping

[Kim in CT]

I purchased my first Catasetum from SVO last August
(Ctsm. Portagee Star 'Brian Lawson's Sunrise' HCC/AOS x Ctsm. Dentigrianum 'SVO Excellence') and it is STILL DORMANT. The most recent pseudobulb is firm, the medium is bone dry, and there are no green nubs to be seen. Do I just wait? It sits next to my Cynoches and Clowesia and they are waking up nicely.

I know orchids teach patience but... I'm getting impatient, and twitchy. Can I do something to encourage it? It's in my house for now, 40-50% humidity, 60-70 F, under lights.

Thanks, Kim

[jtrmd]

You can try to give it a bit of water and raise the temps on it.

[Roberta]

Talk to it? I still have a few Catasetinae that haven't started to sprout yet, and a few others that are "barely started". So patience...

[estación seca]

60-70 F to this plant is winter. Not time to wake up yet. They're warm to hot growing plants that like warm summer nights.

[Roberta]

Heat might help, especially during the day - mine were getting 60 deg F nights and most are wide awake now, but during the day it was warmer in the GH. I move them outside once they get big enough to water, it has been cool (57-58 deg F nights, days in the low 70's F) , and they're growing fast anyway.

[Kim in CT]

Update: She's waking up! I moved her onto a heat mat, placed the pot above a water reservoir, and covered it all with a plastic bag. This morning I saw the smallest little green nub, a full FOUR MONTHS after other OB posters began describing their plants coming out of dormancy. So, other catasetum newbies, take heart. Your timeframe may be very different than growers in, say, the Southern US. I'm still learning so much!

[Roberta]

And different plants behave differently even in the same location. Most of mine have huge leaves, in rapid growth but there are a few that are just starting to peek out.