New Catasetum question...
 

Hi everyone! I am having a few new catasetums delivered from Ecuagenera at the San Fran orchid fest, and these will be my first of the species. I've read they of course are dormant during the winter, but my question is, once I get them settled, how exactly do I know when to start watering them? ( I have some resting dems, and I usually wait u til I see new growth before I water them after the winter) I would greatly appreciate any input, on their dormancy and any other growing tips! I am in Chicago and the weather is currently fluctuating between 35-60 degrees, so I assume that doesn't help much. I will be potting then in 4" vanda baskets with a mix of large bark chunks, (not sure what kind I forages from the forest) charcoal, some volacanic rock and sphag.

Your catasetums may surprise you, since they are coming from south of the equator. They may not be dormant. If that is the case, you will probably want to water and fertilize until the pseudobulbs reach maturity, so that when they finally go dormant, they will have the resources to make strong new bulbs.

Have you read the material at Sunset Valley Orchids - Superior Hybrids for Orchid Enthusiasts ?
Fred Clarke has all the information you need to successfully grow catasetums.

Do they have big sets of leaves now, or are they leafless and dormant?

Water them if in leaf. Don't repot them when in leaf if at all possible. Wait until full dormancy to repot if you can. The best time to repot is when a new growth is just emerging and has very short root nubbins - but don't water until the roots are very much longer.

Study the link fishmom gave you. These can be harmed if watered at all, or underwatered, at the wrong growth stage.

Thank you so much for the link! I will definitely read it.
Ecuador does have a "winter" from October to May, but I'm not exactly sure what that means and will have to Google about it. It might just mean the dry season. It will be interesting to see how they arrive. Thank you for your advice! Definately appreciated.

---------- Post added at 05:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:22 PM ----------

Thank you! I haven't received them yet (ugh) and they are coming bare root, but if they don't have leaves I definately will not water them... off to read the link... thanks for all the advice!

Actually, Ecuador is right on the equator, so you will just have to see what the plants do and respond accordingly. (just pot them up, then don't do anything further until they develop nice long roots.) They could actually skip a whole year of growth and be fine. So don't try to push them, let them do what they will.

A whole year... wow! Good to know. Will do and thank you Roberta!

I have one that I got as the SF show last year from Peru (which is definitely southern hemisphere) and it has just being sitting there... the oldest p-bulb has shriveled but the others are fine, and I do expect new growth soon, So, patience...