Catasetum new shoots

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

Just to clarify - this may be true for external, visible roots.
However, the "largest root growth" is definitely inside the pot and occurs season long and these roots, branching extensively, are growing in a moist environment.

I guess I should have clarified. The initial flush of roots is the largest root growth because those roots will branch and eventually become the largest root mass inside the pot.

Originally Posted by bil

So, can we say that short roots exhibit this sensitivity to water for some crazy reason, but once they are safely 'underground' water ceases to be a problem, and they will grow as per normal?

Roots take water just fine once they get "long." You still have to slowly ramp up the watering until you get to the point where the media doesn't even dry out completely. Many South American growers pot these in plastic soda bottles with a permanent water well in the bottom.

Originally Posted by u bada

but he's also mentioned people will completely cut off al the old roots off the pbs when dormant... although he didn't verify if he advocates that highly or not (he didn't say it was bad practice anyway)... so if you're "suppose" to take out all the old roots then i guess that means the old roots are basically dead anyway and aren't going to grow again? is there anyone that does that here?

A lot of people cut all the roots off each winter because they die anyway. I've never done that because it seems like unnecessary work.

I grow my Catasetinae in long fiber spag. This group is the easiest when it comes to media. They don't seem to care and will grow in bark, spag (which gets changed every other year), rotten wood, cow manure, osmunda, etc.