Growing help with Cyrtopodium graniticum

[Nistlerbulbo]

Hello!
I was wondering if anyone has any cultural information or tips for Cyrtopodium graniticum? Just got done giving it a winter rest under my bench and I spotted two new growths. Help would be amazing!

[WhiteRabbit]

Hope someone can help!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Inermediate to warm growing.

Moderately bright indirect light.

You apparently know about the winter rest thing. If you're wondering about when to water, I'd say maybe wait until the new shoot grows a bit larger.

I'm using what I know from growing Catasetum and Clowesia. I haven't grown Cyrtopodium before.

Catasetum and Cyrtopodium are both in the Cymbidieae tribe and both genera are in the subtribe Catasetinae, (according to the IOSPE - there might be a few sources that may dispute Cyrtopodium being in the subtribe Catasetinae).

[isurus79]

Any updates on this one? I'd love to know where you got this species as well!

[samfish]

I have alot of experience with Cyrtopodium punctatum and Cyrtopodium flavum (or polyphyllum, paraense, etc)... I am sure graniculatum is similar..

On one hand, Cyrtopodium are quite tough plants, capable of surviving drought and full sun... On the other hand, they can be easy to kill (rot due to too much water, too early in the growth cycle)... I have noticed that bare-root or re-potted plants are more susceptible to this, than plants with established root systems...

My recommendation is: As long as you have reasonable humidity and the old pseudobulbs are not shriveling up, Do Not Start Watering, until the new growths have several inches long roots that have already reached into the potting media...

They can be heavy feeders (water+fertilizer) when in active growth... But can easily rot if watered too early.

Mounted plants can handle extra water during dormancy, much better than potted plants...


Let the old Pseudobulbs do their job and get the new growths going, before giving too much water to the plants...


Great Genus, very underappreciated!!!

[estación seca]

I saw a Cyrtopodium species growing fully exposed to sun on black karst limestone in Brazil not far from Bom Jesus de Lapa. It was leafless in the dry winter dormancy. Winter daytime temperatures were in the 80s F / upper 20sC. I asked about summer weather. I was told it rained almost every day, was exceptionally humid, and well over 100 degrees F / 38C day and night.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by samfish

I have alot of experience with Cyrtopodium punctatum and Cyrtopodium flavum (or polyphyllum, paraense, etc)... I am sure graniculatum is similar..

On one hand, Cyrtopodium are quite tough plants, capable of surviving drought and full sun... On the other hand, they can be easy to kill (rot due to too much water, too early in the growth cycle)... I have noticed that bare-root or re-potted plants are more susceptible to this, than plants with established root systems...

My recommendation is: As long as you have reasonable humidity and the old pseudobulbs are not shriveling up, Do Not Start Watering, until the new growths have several inches long roots that have already reached into the potting media...

They can be heavy feeders (water+fertilizer) when in active growth... But can easily rot if watered too early.

Mounted plants can handle extra water during dormancy, much better than potted plants...


Let the old Pseudobulbs do their job and get the new growths going, before giving too much water to the plants...


Great Genus, very underappreciated!!!

Thanks for the tips! I got into this genus last year (2015), have 3 plants and am looking for more! I was wondering about watering too early in the growth cycle, so I'm glad you mentioned it. I've grown many Catasetinae, so I'm used to waiting until the growth gets fairly large before watering the plant. How long do you recommend the roots get before adding water in the spring?

---------- Post added at 12:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:03 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

I saw a Cyrtopodium species growing fully exposed to sun on black karst limestone in Brazil not far from Bom Jesus de Lapa. It was leafless in the dry winter dormancy. Winter daytime temperatures were in the 80s F / upper 20sC. I asked about summer weather. I was told it rained almost every day, was exceptionally humid, and well over 100 degrees F / 38C day and night.

I was growing mine in full Texas sun this summer and they LOVED it!! Definitely a group worth trying in AZ.

[samfish]

3-5 inches long roots, I think would be a good time to start watering!!!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by samfish

3-5 inches long roots, I think would be a good time to start watering!!!

Thanks!