catasetum trulla back bulbs - Orchid Board

catasetum-ian · #1 02-21-2011, 08:42 AM

hi, got one question to ask. i got a trulla back bulb that i swap.....it had been five months plus but no keiki yet....the bulbs are still green and solid. is it possible for a bulb to stay dormant this long? what is the longest dormant period that they can be stay in?
will it just sort of "forger" to grow and eventually die or dry off?
really looking forward for some answers as the waiting is getting me worried. thx

RosieC · #2 02-21-2011, 03:33 PM

I don't really know anything about backbulbs but I've seen this link recomended in the past. The particular page I've linked to say's don't give up until it's completely brown, until then it still has a chance.

Take a look at this site, it has a lot of info about propergating back bulbs.

Orchid backbulbs - Time to let it go?

catasetum-ian · #3 02-21-2011, 06:31 PM

thanks for the link Rosie. very much appreciated

johnblagg · #4 02-21-2011, 07:03 PM

lol not the same plant but every backbulb I have saved so far has eventually made a new eye and grown ....even very small shriveled ones

Shirley · #5 02-21-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnblagg

lol not the same plant but every backbulb I have saved so far has eventually made a new eye and grown ....even very small shriveled ones

What sort of care do you give these backbulbs? Do you leave them completely dry when they aren't showing any growth or do you do something to "wake them up?"

johnblagg · #6 02-21-2011, 09:23 PM

lol mine were just Cattleya back bulbs so far but those I just leave on the bench and they get misted every day when I water ...they eventually get a eye in active growth and I set them on some medium and before long I have roots as well

kavanaru · #7 02-22-2011, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catasetum-ian

hi, got one question to ask. i got a trulla back bulb that i swap.....it had been five months plus but no keiki yet....the bulbs are still green and solid. is it possible for a bulb to stay dormant this long?

yes, it is possible... I had a back PB of Catasetum pileatum, which stayed dormant for almost one year, and then it started a new growth... just don't let it dry out...

catasetum-ian · #8 02-23-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavanaru

yes, it is possible... I had a back PB of Catasetum pileatum, which stayed dormant for almost one year, and then it started a new growth... just don't let it dry out...

ok, thanks for the feed back...much relieved now. all my PB are left lying on a tray, i do not water them at all. they are placed in cool humid area (behind my house is a oil palm plantation) away from direct sun. so far >95% of the PB made it....just that this one is the longest wait for me. tqvm