Catasetum tenebr. grwing from an old bulb - Orchid Board

poluekt_sowranski · #1 11-11-2011, 10:29 AM

Hello!
I've just obtained almost for free an sole old but healthy bulb of marvellous Catasetum tenebrosum with new growth on it just started

what would be you strategy of giving it back to full live? it has no roots, but the bulb itself is all healthy

i for begin just putted it under the lights, without any medium, to make it to grow roots

conditions +26-20, hum. 75-85%

glengary54 · #2 11-11-2011, 02:31 PM

Poluekt - Catasetums start going dormant this time of year. A picture of your bulb will help to tell us more.

Bud · #3 11-11-2011, 02:37 PM

I guess if it is an only bulb with no roots...it needs to grow another bulb and grow roots before you let it bloom...altho it might bloom on just that one single bulb if you let the winter rest do its course...and now that you say that it is forming a new growth...then you just have to let it grow and go with your instincts

poluekt_sowranski · #4 11-11-2011, 04:26 PM

Yes, it's just a bare bulb with no roots, i'm not even thinking about flowering, it has much to do before it can produce any flowers))
so da, i think the best i can do just wait a little let it grow some roots

isurus79 · #5 11-11-2011, 09:16 PM

Hi Poluekt,
I would set the bulb on its side in a 4 inch pot with a 2-3 inch layer of spagnum on top and something large like wine corks underneath. A 4 inch basket filled with spag would also work. Tie the bulb down so that it cannot move and keep the spag moderately wet (spongy, not dripping wet and not crispy dry either). When the roots of the new growth are about 3-4 inches long water/fertilize as normal. These guys like bright light and keep the temperature above 60 degrees fahrenheit. If the temp drops below 55 degrees, you will run the risk of rot. Good luck!

catasetum-ian · #6 11-14-2011, 07:24 AM

Hi Poluekt,
First of all congratulation on your new addition, its a fine ctsm species you got there. what i am about to share is my personal experience and also please take not i am living in a tropical climate here.
interested to post this because i got my tenebrosum the similar way as yours but i am not as lucky, my bulb was severely shriveled.
i treat all bare bulbs under dry condition, no media just occasional misting to avoid severe shriveling of the bulbs.i leave them in bright place but away from direct sunlight. leaving them dry most of the time lessen bulb rot and with this method, of so many catasetum bulbs i had raised, success rate is about 90%.
when i plant them, i make sure no direct contact of sphag moss with the base of the bulbs (it has been associated with bulb rot later on - read from the net...forgot the source)
i attach some pics here, as encouragement. it took me four months of waiting from the pic of the first shriveled bulb to the first new growth. now it had been a year plus and it is currently with 2 new bulbs.

poluekt_sowranski · #7 11-16-2011, 10:05 AM

Thank you! I'll post an update how it's going later