Help with ctsm ivanae

[Dalachin]

This is my second try at ctsm ivanae (from sunset valley). The first one (purchases Aug 2023) bloomed in Dec 2023, then put out a weak new growth in spring 2024 that never took off, it withered and died.

This one was purchased Aug 2024. Photo in not quite full bloom is April 1. I had a busy (insane) week so when I checked in on Aug 6 the blooms had withered on the spikes. I do realize the blooms are short-lived on this species, but that seems fast all the same. The bulb also looks pretty withered. Maybe it is a good thing the blooms faded fast, saving energy for new growth? But it looks to me like stress.

Mostly I have treated it like the other catasetinae. After they went dormant they don’t get watered unless intervention seems necessary. This year I tried the tip floating around to seat the pots over jars of water (not touching) to increase humidity in the root zone.

I’m sort of worried by the withering of the bulb. I admit to dribbling a bit of water down the side of the pot to increase hydration. There is also one errant root that dangles down out of the pot and touches the water in the jar. No sign of new growth yet.

Any advice to help this one succeed?

[Waterdog111]

Is the root you mentioned, the hangin down part in the first picture? I have problems sometimes seeing what others see in pictures. My bad.

[Dalachin]

Yes, that’s it. It usually ends up in the water that is in the jar under the pot.

[Jmoney]

I find that the draconian rest period is not helpful for seedlings and most cycnoches. I now water lightly every 10-14 days in the winter, since my plants get tons of light all the time, and it's fairly 'warm'. Keep in mind I grow in sphagnum, and by the winter months the sphagnum is quite dry and does not rewet readily, so my watering doesn't really soak them. but this keeps the bulbs from shriveling, and seemingly keeps them from dying! (I lost a couple first bloomers that first winter when I withheld all water).

[Dalachin]

Thanks for that… I suspect that might be true of my growing conditions also. Last winter(my first winter with catasetenae) I lost Cynoches pentadactylon and galeandra greenwoodiana in addition to ctsm ivanae.

Maybe just a little water! As you note, a quick drink doesn’t soak dry moss.