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

[nancy]

Greetings orchid fans -
A group of us pooled envies for an order from Bela Vista in Brazil, shipped from the Redlands festival. Box just arrived - they have to be imported rootless, medium-less, dormant, etc.
My much-lusted-after portion is a half-dozen catasetums. No roots, no new growth has broken - but they are all nice, smooth, fat groups of pseudobulbs.
All of my other catasetinae are growing vigorously, some have buds already...so I'm wondering if I should set these aside until I see growth, or soak them briefly and set aside, or just pot them. I do not want to shoot myself in the foot!
Anybody have experience with dealing with these fabulous rascals this late in the season?
Our south Louisiana weather is typically spring-balmy - 92F, 88% humidity - paradise!
Thanks for any advice!
Regards - Nancy

[gands]

Hi Nancy,

Here's my recipe for newly imported dry bare root plants. This is not genera specific, just a good hydrating stress relieving dip/soak. Per gallon of water add:

1 tablespoon of brown sugar (light colored not the dark)
1 tsp balanced fertilizer (I use granulated not liquid)
4 drops KeikiPro or 1 drop Superthrive (do not use them together) use one or the other. Let soak for about 15 minutes

This is a recipe I learned from Dr Dean Stock, and I have found it very helpful for new aquisitions. I just modify the original recipe to use Keikipro instead of Superthrive. Let the plants dry for a day or so and then pot them up.

Good luck

[nancy]

Hi Ganda -
I have my own recipe - it is 1/4 cup sugar, a few drops of superthrive or B12, a dash of liquid seaweed, and several ampoules of Vitamin E added to a gallon of tepid water. Soak overnight, then pot.
What I was wondering is if these catasetums should be left alone, since they are obviously still in dormancy. If there was any kind of foliage, I would definitely soak and pot. Catasetinae are a little touchy about any kind of moisture during dormancy - I have rotted enough to be pretty leery of watering too soon. Sadly learned!
I would think that Brazil would be fairly parallel to the Gulf Coast in spring weather and temperatures, but could be wrong.
There must be some real catasetum pros out there!
Regards - Nancy

[littlefrog]

Yack! Don't soak your catasetums. They aren't growing roots because they are dormant.

Just pot them, and resist the urge to water as long as you possibly can. If the new growths are a few inches high, it is probably still too soon. You can wait until the pseudobulb starts to shrivel before watering, actually, although I can never manage to do that either.

[kavanaru]

I agree 10000000% with Littlefrog!!! let those PBs wake up by themselves when they think they are ready for it (even if it takes a whole year!!). just keep them in a shaded place with high humidity (but not wet!!!) and lots of ventilation. There is no real need to pot them either (but you can do it anyway). I f you see the PBs shrivelling TOO much, and I mean VERY VERY TOO TOO much, mist them a bit
Once the new growths have started with new roots and you a few centimeters, you can start watering. First a bit cautious and then LOTS of water... stop watering by Nov., 1st no matter at which state your plants are..

[nancy]

It hadn't occurred to me before, but somebody pointed out that since they are from Brazil, which is in the southern hemisphere, where it is on the verge of winter (does Brazil get a winter as we know it? Well, not counting the deep south...), they may have just entered dormancy. That's probably why the p'bulbs are so smooth and plump. It may take them awhile to adjust to this end of the earth.
Off-topic, but a few years ago I started some Adenium obesum seeds in the fall (should have done in spring), and for the first two years, they were deciduous in summer; then they adjusted.
I must go murmur to the catasetums en francaise, because I do not speak Spanish. They will understand.
Regards - Nancy
p.s. The plants will sit out on a shelf, dry, until they wake up. Hoping it is soon!

[dvespertilio]

I agree with the above about not watering them until the roots are at least 3-4 inches long (7.5-10 cm) Only mist or water VERY VERY SPARINGLY until you see that kind of root growth, whether accompanied by top growth or not. See Fred Clarke's growing instructions for Catasetinae at Sunset Valley Orchids - Grower and hybridizer of quality orchids, Vista CA

Good luck! Let us see pictures, please, when they finally do grow and bloom. It may take a while because of the southern hemisperic reversal phenomenon.

Michael D.

[nancy]

I'm pretty sure it was Fred Clarke who had an article in Orchids magazine a few years ago (ah, when I could afford to belong to AOS!). His theory was to begin watering when the *roots* were a few inches long - regardless of what the foliage/not foliage was up to. I've found this to be good advice - after watering/assasinating some plants with impressive foliage growth but no roots.
Patience is not one of my virtues. Nancy

Originally Posted by dvespertilio

See Fred Clarke's growing instructions for Catasetinae at Sunset Valley Orchids - Grower and hybridizer of quality orchids, Vista CA
Michael D.

[isurus79]

Since your plants are from Brazil, I think they will be out of whack for a year or two. Most likely, youre gonna get growth this year in the middle of winter or this fall (dont water them much until then). I would water the plants as they normally would be watered (thoroughly) when they are growing this winter until they are able to readjust their circadian rythm. I have a feeling that if they start growing this fall and you dont water them (in order to help get them used to life in the Northern Hemisphere) you might end up taking stressed plants and sending them to orchid heaven. Let them tell you when they want to be watered by following Fred Clarke's growth advice (posted by Michael D), but only after they have switched their growth schedule to adapt to the Northern Hemisphere. Like I said, this might take a year or two. Best case scenario, they send out new growth this fall (and you water them thoroughly), let them rest this spring and then they send out another new growth early next summer.

[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