mormodes culture question

[anthonywidjaya]

dear friends,
I have tried to raise Catasetiinae alliances since 2004. Since then I have succeeded in flowering and hybridizing some of them, as Catasetum, Cycnoches and other intergeneric between them. But, only mormodes seem to fail. from 5 species, now I have only 1 left... Fred Clarke suggested to let them dry, but it seems to withering and died. can anybody give me some clues?
Thanks beforehand

[jay]

I only have a couple Mormodes, and this is my first year trying them. I grow mine in S/H, and they seem to love the culture. I will see how the drying out period and dormancy go this winter.

I have read in "Taylor's guide to orchids" that Mormodes can have these difficulties and even in great care can die for apparently no reason at all.

[anthonywidjaya]

yes... it happened that way.. the other Catasetum, Cycnoches and Clowesia grow very well... at first the morm did grow profusely, but after ther 3rd growths, they seem to suffering something and died slowly...
how sad....

[jay]

Most orchids from the Catasetinae sub-tribe do not do well as specimen plants. They do better as 1-3 growths. Many will lose any growths beyond 2 or 3 to rot. I would regularly divide this type of plant.

[Bruno De Toni]

The mormodes are the most difficult to cultivate of the catasetinae group. I succeded to cultivate them just knowing in what medium they grow in nature and that is in dead trees or dead branches, so it means you have to use decomposed wood as part of the medium culture. Also they like lot of humidity, even when they are dormant (it not means wet).

[isurus79]

I grow mine with very bright light, moderate humidity and I water every day in summer. I pot mine in a plastic pot with slits cut in the side. Then I place wine corks on end as the majority of the media. The top 1/3 of the pot is spagnum. The media dries out in a few hours with a good breeze blowing and so far my Mormodes seem to do well with this regimine.

[anthonywidjaya]

thanx a lot... i will try the decomposed wood...
i use charcoal and sphagnum moss.
the do very well at first, but gradually become thinner...
now i lost all of 4 species,
ny catasetum do grow much better.

[Nokomis.FL]

I have had a similar experience with Mormodes and even a couple of Cryptopodium. The Mormodes may seem fine one week, then the next they have rotted and wilted. Seems size is a definite factor and the bigger the bulb the more likely they are to survive.

[nancy]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I grow mine with very bright light, moderate humidity and I water every day in summer. I pot mine in a plastic pot with slits cut in the side. Then I place wine corks on end as the majority of the media. The top 1/3 of the pot is spagnum. The media dries out in a few hours with a good breeze blowing and so far my Mormodes seem to do well with this regimine.

Well, I'm going to have to start drinking more wine!
Cheers - Nancy

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by nancy

Well, I'm going to have to start drinking more wine!
Cheers - Nancy

We orchid growers are a sacrificing breed! There's no horror we wont go through for our plants!!