Catasetum - To water or not to water ?

[orchidsarefun]

I've switched to watering all my dormant ( leafless ) catasetums 1x per week. I've had documented success - see various threads.
However it's important to emphasize -
Watering is on opposite side of pot to new growth/ possible new growth Not directly on new roots or growths. Watering is increased when leaf growth takes off.
I do not use pure sphagnum. Even 1x per week watering with sphagnum may be too much, depending on your indoor humidity levels.
I grow various terrestrial orchids and my catasetum watering experiment has helped in my cultivation of these.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

Not directly on new roots or growths.

We've been having huge rains over here - big monsoon, and new roots are coming out of a bunch of the Fdk plants ..... and rain had been keeping the new roots wet for at least a week ----- and the roots just keep getting longer and longer. The roots are growing at a nice rate. So this is why I'm questioning some youtube videos about avoid watering new roots.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

isurus --- no definite answer yet. I think the 'reason' is not enough people seeing for themselves what will happen, and getting a chance to report on findings.

Those of us that have grown this group for a long time are familiar with what happens. It’s only the inexperienced folk that try watering early to see what happens.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Those of us that have grown this group for a long time are familiar with what happens. It’s only the inexperienced folk that try watering early to see what happens.

Experience is definitely great. Although - understanding the reason or mechanism behind reported deaths of new roots by watering too early can also be beneficial.

Also, understanding exceptions or conditions where no problem occurs when new roots are watered (and stay wet) --- can be advantageous too.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

We've been having huge rains over here - big monsoon, and new roots are coming out of a bunch of the Fdk plants ..... and rain had been keeping the new roots wet for at least a week ----- and the roots just keep getting longer and longer. The roots are growing at a nice rate. So this is why I'm questioning some youtube videos about avoid watering new roots.

But isn't this your growing season? Plants shouldn't be dormant.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

But isn't this your growing season? Plants shouldn't be dormant.

They're certainly not dormant right now. But new roots are growing out nearby to new leaf shoots, and going strong. I have the main older big leaves, and also there are new side-shoots (that will develop into new bulbs)...... and new root growth.

The rains hopefully have stopped now --- after about 10 or 11 days of big rains.

My main question for the research community is - there are reports of new roots dying when being watered and kept wet - what's the mechanism behind it?

I have no problem with not watering new roots, and no problem with following recommendations. But still definitely interested in knowing the cause of the new root death observed by growers when new roots are watered regularly - even when they don't actually need to be watered.

[orchidsarefun]

I've never had new root die off when the plants are in active growth. In fact I even stand the pots in a saucer of water when they are outdoors. The plants are rained on too. Roots are constantly growing throughout the season.
In fact with my tabulare - 3 spikes - new roots originated with each new spike. Same with my macroglossum - 4 spikes. As with my pileatum -1 spike. I could go on.
Your experience is proving a fact.

[camille1585]

I'm very happy to see this old thread brought up again. I thought (as a relative newbie to Catasetinae) that any water at all during dormancy was a terrible thing to do, and even worse when the new growth is starting. But like most orchid advice there's always a nearly fool proof method that is proven to work, and then many different ways of doing things once you know what you're doing.

Seeing the success you had with your experiment, I'm tempted to experiment as well. One of my 2 Cats has a new growth starting, so I'll cautiously pour a little bit of water on the opposite side of the pot every 10 days or so.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

I've never had new root die off when the plants are in active growth.

Thanks OAF (orchids are fun) ----- yes... definitely the new roots near the new off-shoot have kept growing and getting longer during the rain. The strong winds kept blowing the heavy rain onto all my orchids --- the catasetums and catts - hammering all these orchids for about 10 days or so. Very wet conditions. Very wet roots. Very windy too - even tipping over some Fdk. pots sometimes.

The roots of pretty much all the orchids became very active indeed - probably due to the humidity, airing, and maybe low light conditions during this unexpectedly long rain period. The new roots of the Fdk certainly haven't stopped growing.

Naturally, these are new roots of actively growing plants. I will eventually get around to seeing what happens with new roots of Fdk, Monn etc. emerging from dormancy. Perhaps it's a part of some of these plant's evolved behaviour to simply stop relatively new root growth when the new roots become wet --- for plants emerging from dormancy.

Time for some experimenting from me too.


Above: new root growth from plant - with short new roots very wet for about 10 days.


Above: same plant - zoomed out.


Above: most of these Fdk plants grow in loosely packed spaghnum surrounded by quincan gravel around the sides and at the pot base. Pots sit on plastic drainage grate.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Thanks OAF (orchids are fun) ----- yes... definitely the new roots near the new off-shoot have kept growing and getting longer during the rain. The strong winds kept blowing the heavy rain onto all my orchids --- the catasetums and catts - hammering all these orchids for about 10 days or so. Very wet conditions. Very wet roots. Very windy too - even tipping over some Fdk. pots over sometimes.

The roots of pretty much all the orchids became very active indeed - probably due to the humidity, airing, and maybe low light conditions during this unexpectedly long rain period. The new roots of the Fdk certainly haven't stopped growing.

Naturally, these are new roots of actively growing plants. I will eventually get around to seeing what happens with new roots of Fdk, Monn etc. emerging from dormancy. Perhaps it's a part of some of these plant's evolved behaviour to simply stop relatively new root growth when the new roots become wet --- for plants emerging from dormancy.

Time for some experimenting from me too.


Above: new root growth from plant - with short new roots very wet for about 10 days.


Above: same plant - zoomed out.


Above: most of these Fdk plants grow in loosely packed spaghnum surrounded by quincan gravel around the sides and at the pot base. Pots sit on plastic drainage grate.

Ah, so this is a second growth coming in during the active growth season? The new roots will be fine. Second growths are common and don't seem to mind wet media.