my Fred. after dark still no growths now what?

[kindrag23]

My fredclarkea after dark went to sleep in I would say mid october. It is now January.and still no signs of growth. My others all have 1 or 2 new growths and are around .5-1inches....should I continue and leave it as is OR repot and restart watering?

Thanks!

[DavidCampen]

Do _not_ start watering before you see new growth!

Many of my catasetinae have not even gone dormant yet.

[kindrag23]

Okay. Thanks. All my others are growing like crazy lol. Though this is my baby so who knows. Lol. Thank u!!!

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

Okay. Thanks. All my others are growing like crazy lol. Though this is my baby so who knows. Lol. Thank u!!!

Here ya go. Fred Clarke undoubtedly knows best cultural practices for this one.

Sunset Valley Orchids - Catasetinae Plant Culture
Cycnoches, Catasetums, Mormodes, and Clowesia

Catasetinae begin their new growth in early spring. However, watering should wait until the new growth has well developed new roots. This means you should let the new roots grow to an approximate length of 3-5” before you begin watering. Let me emphasize this point. Wait to water until the new roots are well developed. The waiting to water is not easy, my natural instinct is to begin watering when I see new growth, but I have learned through trial and error that it is better to wait to water than start watering too soon. I also believe that Catasetinae roots deteriorate during dormancy and in the following year they are not as effective at taking up moisture and nutrients. This makes the new roots vital in the plants health. This reinforces the message about not watering too early.

Be sure to read the rest of that page as well.

[kindrag23]

I have read this and follow this closely. I have several others that are already growing and nearing the right size and developed roots to be repotted and watered again. He is my only one not doing anything as of yet. As well as going to sleep around the same time as my others also.

So I wondered what was up with him and whether if this was normal or not....

[isurus79]

Always always always always follow what the individual plant is telling you to do. Never try to force these guys, especially with water in winter!

[kindrag23]

I was not trying to force anything I wondered if the plant was telling me it was not going to be making a new bulb this year is quite honestly what I thought. Not sure if that was what they did but with orchids one can never be to sure.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

I was not trying to force anything I wondered if the plant was telling me it was not going to be making a new bulb this year is quite honestly what I thought. Not sure if that was what they did but with orchids one can never be to sure.

I wouldn't start worrying about things like that until about mid May. Lots of Catasetinae start growing early (like tenebrosum) and many start later in the season (like Cyc. barthiorum). Heck, you might get a bloom from the tenebrosum when your Cycnoches are just starting to grow roots!

[kindrag23]

Good to know. Glad this is something more along the lines of normalcy.

[palm521]

respect for dormancy is a must, it will get there eventually,

my catasetinae are kept dry when in dormancy. but i do keep high relative humidity around them.

LOL,steve my tenebrosum is making a spike , funny that all of my peruvian catasetinae (cyc and catasetums) are all awakening. some even flowering, c. shunkei, (who seems to be the earliest guy of the bunch)

my mexican mormodes are entering dormancy,

go figure.

i do have a big basket that hungs near the roof, where all the sleepers go when they hit dormancy, no water gets to them (Well maybe a few splash drops here and there).