Catasetum not dropping leaves

[calvin_orchidL]

Hey everyone,

I have a catasetum hybrid, and it doesn't seem to be dropping it's leaves - should the plant be allowed to go bone dry? I left it without water for a month, but instead of dropping leaves, the pbulbs started shrivelling, signalling to me that it isn't ready for dormancy. Now I just spritz the sphag a little once every 3 weeks...should I just stop watering all together?

[kavanaru]

Calvin,

if the pseudobulb is already mature, you can stop fertilizing (as a thumb rule: start this by Nov, 15th) and start reducing watering by half (as a thumb rule start this by Dec., 1st). By January 1st all leave should be fallen. If not, then just stop water completely by jan, 1st and let the leave dry out.

If the PBs are not yet mature, I would continue watering and fertilizing until the plant decides it wants to go dormant.

I know some Catasetinae, which just refise to go dormant (have seen this mainly in S/H), and which just start a new growth before the leave of the older plant are fallen. Now, I have one cycnodes doing this. It will have no rest at all this year!

[isurus79]

FWIW, I have also talked to some Catasetinae growers (Gene Monnier and others) who feel that if the temps do not go below 55 degrees F, then your Cats don't even need a rest. I'm experimenting with that this winter.

[brsucculents]

Originally Posted by isurus79

FWIW, I have also talked to some Catasetinae growers (Gene Monnier and others) who feel that if the temps do not go below 55 degrees F, then your Cats don't even need a rest. I'm experimenting with that this winter.

I realize this is an out thread. This warm weather and many of my Catasetinae with leaves this year make me wonder how Stephen's experiment went. I found it interesting that Katrina doesn't force here seedlings into dormancy. So is there a need for them to go dormant to initiate new growth or bloom? I do have several small divisions of Fredclarkara that have leaves and are starting to put out new growths

[Yazz]

If they're putting out new growths, I wouldn't force anything on them. Let them do their thing.

In Houston, not all cats go dormant. Remember to repot them in the spring.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by brsucculents

I realize this is an out thread. This warm weather and many of my Catasetinae with leaves this year make me wonder how Stephen's experiment went. I found it interesting that Katrina doesn't force here seedlings into dormancy. So is there a need for them to go dormant to initiate new growth or bloom? I do have several small divisions of Fredclarkara that have leaves and are starting to put out new growths

Randy,
The experiment went well and my plants bloomed normally, though maybe a bit later in the season than normal. Roy Tokunaga also doesn't give his Catasetinae a rest. If you can keep them warm, there doesn't seem to be a need for an extended rest.

[katrina]

Steve, your leaves never turned and dropped? The leaves on most of mine always begin to "go" even before I start reducing the water.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by katrina

Steve, your leaves never turned and dropped? The leaves on most of mine always begin to "go" even before I start reducing the water.

Katrina,
This experiment was when I lived in Hawaii, so the leaves would often fall on their own, but sometimes they would only partially fall off. Either way, I kept watering the experiment plants whether their leaves dropped or not. New growths often popped up pretty quickly.

[brsucculents]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Randy,
The experiment went well and my plants bloomed normally, though maybe a bit later in the season than normal. Roy Tokunaga also doesn't give his Catasetinae a rest. If you can keep them warm, there doesn't seem to be a need for an extended rest.

And they put up new growth in the Spring?

---------- Post added at 04:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:31 PM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

Katrina,
This experiment was when I lived in Hawaii, so the leaves would often fall on their own, but sometimes they would only partially fall off. Either way, I kept watering the experiment plants whether their leaves dropped or not. New growths often popped up pretty quickly.

Ok, very interesting. If I had several seedling I would do an experiment. I don't see why keeping them growing would be detrimental to the plant long term. It seem like it would help. Longer time with leaves in sun --> more energy and food --> more growth and flowers.

On the other had, this dormancy thing is ideal for people without a greenhouse or limited winter growing space.

I really appreciate your knowledge Steve. So often we here stuff without a factual basis. Unless you experiment (i.e. scientific method) we'll just end up with folklore and myths.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by brsucculents

And they put up new growth in the Spring?

They put up a new growth in winter and often put up another growth in summer.

Originally Posted by brsucculents

I really appreciate your knowledge Steve. So often we here stuff without a factual basis. Unless you experiment (i.e. scientific method) we'll just end up with folklore and myths.

I have experimented much of my collection into oblivion! This year has been especially tough on my plants. However, I think it makes a person a much better grower in the long run though.