questions about cataseum types

[jmccoy]

I bought several this year and they all seemed to be in full growth with roots well into the moss. All bought from SVO. Now though it seems the roots have gotten soft and perhaps are dead. The old growths are starting to shrivel. I am worried I watered too much too soon or used too much fertilizer.

I am wondering if there is much I can do to save them and get them to start plumping up the old growths and maybe progress some more on the newer growths.

Also do seedlings from SVO tend to bloom the first year you buy them or does it take a year before they bloom?

Thanks for everyone. This is my first time growing them.

[Helene]

Can you post pictures of your plant?
How does the new growth look?

I'm new to catasetum myself, but I think someone can help with answers if you post pictures


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[katrina]

The old growth shriveling is normal...it's being consumed by the newest growth. This happens with most of them. If the newest growth is growing and looks good, don't worry.

As for seedling size from SVO...it could be a year or two before you see blooms. It depends on how big the plant is and how much growth you can get on them during their active time.

You really can't water this group too much, once they get going. What makes you think the roots are bad?

[gngrhill]

I got two from SVO in Feb this year. One had two old growths and grew a new one and that one spiked. The other had one old growth and grew a new one and that one has not spiked. Hope that helps. These are a new group to me also.

[jmccoy]

I will take pictures tomorrow of all of them and get them so I can post them to this forum. I think the roots are going bad because they are soft and when I squeeze them with my fingers they are not hard and plump. I kept thinking I cant water them too much even though they were right in from of my fan but I may have needed to wait a day or two between waterings, not just when the top seemed to get dry. One looks like it is going dormant. All of them only have one old pseudobulb. One has a fine looking old pseudobulb but the rest are starting to shrivel and one is really really shriveled. I am trying to get them to dry out and giving them more light outside rather than inside.

The one that is losing leaves will not continue to get water like the others, only very minimal amounts until the last leaf falls and then nothing since I dont want it to rot and if it wants to sleep then it can sleep. lol.

Next question is should I take it out of the media once it is dormant or leave it in the dry media?

[gngrhill]

I have read advice both ways. Orchid girl cuts the roots off and leaves it out of the media until it starts new growth. I left mine in the media and just didn't water until new growth with new roots grew to 4 to 5 inches long

[AvantGardner]

I leave mine in the media until I see new top growth. At that point I repot.