Catasetum new growth ALREADY?!? - Orchid Board

talyce66 · #1 01-12-2008, 03:03 PM

I guess it was back in October when I had to bring my catasetum in for the dormant season. Not quite sure, but I took it inside and quit watering completly after all the leaves fell off. This is the only one I have, so I am not at all familiar with this species except for what I have read. Today I thought I would give it a little mist, and sure enough, there is a new growth not quite a half inch. It's January! Does this happen often? Should I gradually increase water or bring it out? I am in Central Florida, but it does get cold here once in a while. Help please!

Just dont know what to do!

Ross · #2 01-12-2008, 03:44 PM

Don't have an opinion or advice on this genus or do I have knowledge about Florida, but I do know that this year my Dendrobium anosmum chose to send out new flower buds and new green shoots several months early. Could this be "global warming"? Or could this be due to changing culture for the plants based on info shared so-willingly here? Don't know, but I choose the latter.

isurus79 · #3 01-12-2008, 04:40 PM

Dont start watering until the roots get to be an inch or two in length. Once that happens, water as often as you like!! It is a bit early, but I have a tenebrosa that also has an early growth. Not to mention my Morm. hookerae look ready to go, as well as a Cycnoches hybrid. Hopefully we can get 2 new growths this year out of our 'chids!!

cb977 · #4 01-12-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isurus79

Dont start watering until the roots get to be an inch or two in length. Once that happens, water as often as you like!! It is a bit early, but I have a tenebrosa that also has an early growth. Not to mention my Morm. hookerae look ready to go, as well as a Cycnoches hybrid. Hopefully we can get 2 new growths this year out of our 'chids!!

I have never been more confused about what to do with a 'chid!

I have a Clowesia Rebecca Northen 'Pink Fragrance' which has been in a winter rest since the first week of November. The plant has never done anything prior to this year...and now it has a 2" spike with 4 or 5 buds on it already! I was planning on "resting" it until early March but now that these buds are growing, do I continue to rest it or start treating it normally again?

cb977 · #5 01-12-2008, 08:51 PM

Didn't want this one to get buried...I really don't know what to do

isurus79 · #6 01-12-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

I have a Clowesia Rebecca Northen 'Pink Fragrance' which has been in a winter rest since the first week of November. The plant has never done anything prior to this year...and now it has a 2" spike with 4 or 5 buds on it already! I was planning on "resting" it until early March but now that these buds are growing, do I continue to rest it or start treating it normally again?

Keep "resting" the Clowesia. Again, wait until it has a new growth with roots that are a few inches long before beginning a more normal watering regimine. If the p-bulbs begin to shrivel a lot then maybe spray the top of the media a few times per week until the bulbs are slightly larger. Oh and dont forget the most important part........ post pics of your flowers when they open!!!

cb977 · #7 01-12-2008, 10:53 PM

Thanks!

I've had this plant for close to 3 years and this is the first time I have it doing anything...I've been bouncing back and forth between the two options for fear of doing the wrong thing and killing the buds that are finally growing.

Believe me...

will be appearing here as soon as they happen

euplusia · #8 01-13-2008, 12:46 PM

In nature at the end of the dry season a strong catasetum can have new growths up to 10-12 centimeters long . They wait for the rain to come without suffering, and they can wait 4-6 weeks. I´ve seen this in Santa Catarina (Brazil) and Nicaragua (Ctsm. maculatum).
So if your catasetum is a bit early, I think it´s best to keep your plant inside your home in Florida because of possible cold drops, and do a slightly misting on warm days. There is no need to start heavy watering now.

As for Clowesia rosea and their hybrids: The plant will flower in February and March. If it dries out completely now, the spike and buds will die. It benefits from misting too. If temperature is around 20° Celsius, there will be no harm. But if your plant rests at a low temperature less than 15°C for hours, water is critical. Take it inside your home or provide "warm feet" with an electric terrarium heater.
A Clowesia rosea can be covered all over with flowers.

cb977 · #9 01-13-2008, 12:57 PM

Thanks for the info

All the 'chids I have resting do get a slight misting once a week or so. On the few occasions that our temps drop, the room gets closed up, the heater gets set to 52 and the ceiling fans are running on reverse to push the warm air back down. Unfortunately, we're preparing for a few of those days now

I'm expecting high 40s tonight and low 40s for the next few nights.

euplusia · #10 01-13-2008, 01:42 PM

Two days ago I visited our local orchid group meeting here in Germany. One of our members brought a healthy plant of Catasetum pileatum with ten male flowers. All the leaves were green (January 12t !!), and even the tips had no signs of turning yellow. The plant received regular watering and was grown on windowsill.