Initiating Catasetum Root Growth?

[SirCatofBloominCheshireC:]

Hi, I have a Catasetum that has been resting for the past 6 months. I only gave it a little bit of water recently since it began it's resting period. I had thought it would have started growing roots by now as this is when it seems like their time of the year to grow. I live in a northern cold state in a very dry region, and have the plant sitting on a filtered, bathroom windowsill. It isn't really potted at the moment, just sitting on top of it's bark in the pot. It had 3 backbulbs and 1 new growth when I got it, but has since used all the energy from the backbulbs to plump up the new growth. It has just been sitting there on the windowsill like this for about the last 6 months. Aside from the now shrivelled backbulbs, the new bulb looks good and firm and green. But is there anything I can do to help the plant out? I had to cut off the old roots it came with because they were growing lots of mold just after I got it. I've been thinking maybe I should sphag n bag it to raise the humidity, but I don't want to risk rotting it. I've heard catasetums are quite prone to that, and this is my first one.

Thanks to anyone willing to read all that and give helpful advice

[camille1585]

Do you mean that it have been a leafless, rootless bulb for the past 6 months?

I don't grow catasetinae, but from what I know of them I think it may still be a tad early for them to wake up from their rest. I would not sphag n bag it, as you say they are prone to rot, and the large bulbs are their reserves to get them through the rest period.

I would wait until you see a new growth starting and then pot it up. The most crucial step is to NOT water it until the roots of the new growth are already quite long (a couple inches), or else there’s a high risk of rot.Someone who knows more about catasetinae can probably give you a better and more detailed answer.
And what temperature is it kept at?

This is a good source of information on these plants: Catasetum Growth Cycle

[SirCatofBloominCheshireC:]

Thanks for your reply. The temperature is another worry. I just read that they should be kept dry and warm during dormancy. Mine is sitting on a cold aluminum windowsill. So I'm wondering if that is making the little plant grumpy...

[katrina]

Cold will definitely stall any chance of new growth starting.

Was the plant a recent import when you got it? I ask because they don't usually go dormant for us northern hemisphere folks until fall/Winter. Not one of mine is completely leafless yet.

Move it to a warmer area but because it has no roots now, watering too early will only risk rotting it out. I know it's hard...but wait.

[nogreenthumbs]

My understanding of Cats are that you shouldn't begin watering until they have a few inches of root growth. I think a lot of folks just stick them in a shoe box or something for the winter. I think I've read that they can be dormant for anywhere from 4-9 months and then they grow like gangbusters. And some folks don't water them until they have a lot of root, several inches. I want one so I've read up on them over on the Cat subforum, but I don't have any.

[DeaC]

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[marcmaubert]

I have a similar question, my Monnierara millennium magic 'witchcraft' was a recent export. It lost all of its leaves late summer, and has been resting since. I put it in a warm spot, but maybe it was too warm because I just discovered it has a tiny new growth. Should I do something or just let it be?

[nogreenthumbs]

Originally Posted by marcmaubert

I have a similar question, my Monnierara millennium magic 'witchcraft' was a recent export. It lost all of its leaves late summer, and has been resting since. I put it in a warm spot, but maybe it was too warm because I just discovered it has a tiny new growth. Should I do something or just let it be?

My vote is let it be. If it has decided this is time, let it do it's thing, and don't try to change it's mind. You'll probably just confuse it and invite disaster. Just don't water it. Go check out the Catasetum board about watering.

[SirCatofBloominCheshireC:]

Originally Posted by katrina

Cold will definitely stall any chance of new growth starting.

Was the plant a recent import when you got it? I ask because they don't usually go dormant for us northern hemisphere folks until fall/Winter. Not one of mine is completely leafless yet.

Move it to a warmer area but because it has no roots now, watering too early will only risk rotting it out. I know it's hard...but wait.

I don't believe it was any recent import. I bought it from a grower in Texas. But I live in a northern state. I'm thinking the Catasetums can still keep their growing schedule in Texas that they keep down where they grow naturally. Southern Texas is pretty warm.

[Roberta]

For what it's worth I have a Catasetum that I got from a South American grower in February of a couple of years ago... it was leafless. It stayed that way through the summer (which it thought was winter) and through the following winter (no water all that time) The following spring ( this spring) it finally sprouted - so about a year and a half dormant. Hasn't bloomed yet, but has grown nicely. So as long as the newest p-bulb is firm it's fine. I have found that they tend to shrivel a bit just before they start to sprout (probably feeding a developing root system that I can't see) and at that point I might mist a bit (in the morning, to be sure no water catches in a developing shoot when it gets cool at night) But don't expect to see much action until at least March or April. It does want to stay above about 55 deg F or more. Just ignore it for a few more months.