Bare-root, no-growth-yet catasetums - I need advice!

[nancy]

Hi Steve -
I think your thoughts make sense; it seems logical to treat these plants as if it were winter here (steamy, humid winter!). And it also does make sense that it may take them a year or more to find their balance and reach the point where they will bloom. It will certainly be worth the wait - good thing there are other plants out there!
Thanks - Nancy

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by nancy

Hi Steve -
I think your thoughts make sense; it seems logical to treat these plants as if it were winter here (steamy, humid winter!). And it also does make sense that it may take them a year or more to find their balance and reach the point where they will bloom. It will certainly be worth the wait - good thing there are other plants out there!
Thanks - Nancy

I agree. You'll also be the only person posting of Catasetum flowers in the spring!

[Sandy4453]

All this great advice and I'm still confused

Of the 3 catesetums I have, one dropped all it's leaves recently. I thought when the bulbs start to grow leaves, roots will also begin and then, watering resumed, gradually (with amount and length of roots) until they begin to lose leaves in autumn, etc. I watered, probably too much and think this is what caused the leaf drop early in the season? I've stopped all watering on this one. What should I expect at this point, no growth until next year or a dead plant? I bought this plant with it's leaves already grown so I'm wondering if their typical watering season doesn't necessarily mean ALL spring/summer long?

The other 2 have leaves, lots of roots but I noticed that the roots began to suffer with the watering intake. I've cut back on the watering to twice a week. Is this realistic or should I wait to see new root growth first?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by SRF

All this great advice and I'm still confused

Of the 3 catesetums I have, one dropped all it's leaves recently. I thought when the bulbs start to grow leaves, roots will also begin and then, watering resumed, gradually (with amount and length of roots) until they begin to lose leaves in autumn, etc. I watered, probably too much and think this is what caused the leaf drop early in the season? I've stopped all watering on this one. What should I expect at this point, no growth until next year or a dead plant? I bought this plant with it's leaves already grown so I'm wondering if their typical watering season doesn't necessarily mean ALL spring/summer long?

The other 2 have leaves, lots of roots but I noticed that the roots began to suffer with the watering intake. I've cut back on the watering to twice a week. Is this realistic or should I wait to see new root growth first?

If you are overwatering and one of your plants dropped its leaves already, that means the roots are probably dead. There's no way that the leaves should be dropping this early in the year. Unless you got your plants from South America, that is. Some would DEFINITELY help with a diagnosis, however. Its probably too late to repot this year (unless the roots are just a mess, which is what Im guessing for your leafless plant), but next year try to repot your Catasetums with larger media and poke holes in your plastic pots or use clay pots. You could even try mounting them or repotting them into baskets. That way your could water them all you want and not really be overwatering! Definitely post some pics though.

[Sandy4453]

Thanks for the reply and advice Steve. Well, I've already repotted the leafless one into a seedling bark mix. The roots were pretty much spent but nothing was rotted. Hopefully, it'll gain momentum next growing season? It's the first one in the pic. The other 2 are still ok but as I mentioned, the roots suffered from the frequency in which these were watered so I'm holding back now until I start seeing more root growth. Am I assuming correctly? These 2 are in Hydroton with a little coir and charcoal. All are in side slit, plastic pots.

Should I hold off on watering the 2 with leaves until I start seeing new growth?