First Catasetum - when should I divide/repot

[kindrag23]

Originally Posted by kikitastrophe

I followed the above advice, when the growth got to 2" I unpotted, clipped off the old roots, and split the 5 divisions (there was one tiny bulb I hadn't seen until I unpotted) into 2 plants: #1 comprised of the the oldest three bulbs (2 larger ones, one tiny) and #2 including the two newest and largest bulbs and the small 2" tall new growth.

#1 and #2 each went in Oncidium Imperial Orchid Mix in seperate 4" pots.

This process was pretty rough and I wish I had a picture of the a 5' x 4' murder scene of spagnum moss, root clippings and old medium. My husband (who purchased the FDK from Sunset Valley) looked a little worried, and admittedly I was not entirely confident.

When #2 was 5" I started watering, approximately 1x/week, and I'm fertilizing weakly almost every week with my usual grow-more 20-10-20

#1 is not quite an inch yet (I am not watering it), but I am optimistic I will have two plants! #2 looks great. (See photos)

The more I see this thread the more I want to separate my frilly Doris..It has 3 large growths and one tiny one I want to save all of them to try and prevent the plant from aborting one.

[Brooke]

If you want a big husky plant, don't divide. The more pbulbs and growths the more blooms you will get. Even if the smallest new growth doesn't bloom it will give you another new growth next year.

Brooke

[kindrag23]

Originally Posted by Brooke

If you want a big husky plant, don't divide. The more pbulbs and growths the more blooms you will get. Even if the smallest new growth doesn't bloom it will give you another new growth next year.

Brooke

Thanks Brooke, I separated one of the phulbs off because the other 2 growths were off the biggest new growth. I have the small 2 inch growth now in moss with the medium sized phulb attached for a continued energy source. I won't do any more separating this year

Oh I also have it inside sitting next to my desert tortoise tank where it gets good bright light with the ceiling fan going above it for continued air flow.