Sleeping Beauty: Catasetum won't come out of dormancy

[orchidmancer]

Hi there!

I purchased two SVO Black Pearl bare root orchids from Seattle Orchid over the Memorial Day weekend sale, but have been unable to get them to come out of dormancy.

They came to me potted in a Growstone, bark, charcoal mix and I have them in a sunny Southern window. At first I misted in the morning a weak kelp emulsion/water mix hoping that would get them to get going (the window is warm and the direct sunlight dried them before the end of the day, so no rot), but nothing happened so I stopped.

Should I leave them alone or try something else? Would rooting hormone get them to grow?

I'm wondering where they came from and if they're adjusting to a different timezone/hemisphere as well. Any help would be appreciated!!

[estación seca]

If they crossed the equator, yes, they're confused. Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids suggested, in a talk, that warmth and humidity tell the plants the rainy season is almost here. I would not mist them. Keep them warm and humid.

[Subrosa]

Where in the US do you live?

[orchidmancer]

Thanks for the info, estación seca. It's pretty humid where I live now (around 70% right now) and no a/c so I will leave them be where they are.

Subrosa, I'm in zone 7b on the east coast.

[Subrosa]

Can you put them outside? I'm in 7A near the east coast and my Catasetum have been out for a couple weeks. You have to start them off easy, but imo once you acclimate them to outdoor sun you can't give them too much sun outdoors at our latitudes.

[orchidmancer]

Hi Subrosa, I was about to do it but it's been raining where I live. Should I leave them outdoors but take them inside when it looks like rain, or are you saying just leave them outside anyway?

My original plan was to hang it outside and get full sun or near it but since it's not in active growth I kept them in.

[Subrosa]

If the roots aren't 4"-5" long then I'd want to control watering. Mine are at the point now that I could sit them in a tray of standing water and they'd be fine. If the plant has no new growth then full sun would be fine. The new growth will develop in the light it will grow in, just like in nature.

[orchidmancer]

Okay, I see. I guess it would help to post a photo, but these are bare root bulbs with no actively growing roots at all so I worry about rot. I will set them outside on a sunny day.

[isurus79]

If you move them, keep them in the same spot. They hate being moved around. And keep them dry!