No rest for the (wicked) Catasetum OR a weekend of dormancy.....

[DirtyCoconuts]

So i am NOT an expert at this family NOR any other for that matter but i am really new to this type of Orchid and so i am learning as i go.

I recently acquired one in dormancy, I had two already....One of mine was clearly entering dormancy and i cut the yellowed leaves off and stopped watering.

I received the new one and set it on the same outside (covered and shaded) window sill and moved my third ( still with leaves) on there as well figuring the dormancy would be soon approaching and i could have them all together....

Fast forward three quick days....

I went to look at them and all three have very clear new growths starting. one is almost a CM long ( it was tucked inside the sheath so i may have just overlooked it last week but i was pretty careful.

So, i repotted all three into pretty much all lava rock and i am going to resume my normal watering routine based on the new growth.

Am i crazy?



here are some shots of the leads
Match head by J Solo, on Flickr

and one for the root porn thread

Match head by J Solo, on Flickr

thoughts or experiences? i know that they CAN have very short dormancy periods....i also know that my climate might be more tropical and it is possible that can cause the plant to skip that phase all together....???

[Roberta]

Go slow on the resumed watering... generally the advice is to wait for new roots to be 3-4 inches, and the leaves opened out before watering. Others suggest very light watering of the medium away from the plant. A good time to repot, but don't rush to start watering, as long as you don't see shriveling of the newest pseudobulb. (If you do, that's when the very light watering of the medium can help)

[signin1234]

Those roots look mighty.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Thanks Roberta! Would you advise that I let it full dry out or maintain a little moisture?

I know the prevailing logic is to let it be so I am not looking to buck the wisdom of those who have much more experience.

Thanks signin!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Thanks Roberta! Would you advise that I let it full dry out or maintain a little moisture?

I know the prevailing logic is to let it be so I am not looking to buck the wisdom of those who have much more experience.

I think let it be... the new growth is teensy, several months away from being even close. Isurus79 has lots of experience with Catasetinae, and some videos that he has made that are stuffed with useful info... Suggest that you search the Board for his contributions. But this group of orchids is quite amazing at how dry they can be and show no desiccation.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Rock and roll!!!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

So, i repotted all three into pretty much all lava rock and i am going to resume my normal watering routine based on the new growth.
Am i crazy?

Am i crazy?

I don't think you're crazy

But anyway, I transferred an actively growing Fdk to scoria this season, which originally started out of dormancy. The new roots were watered, along with a whole bunch of my other Fdk and other catasetum plants - coming out of dormancy. And I'm currently testing a smaller Fdk that came out of dormancy - in scoria.

I see no issues with the growth of these plants. One really needs to ask the question of - why would new roots get killed or stop growing when water touches them? What I've seen consistently is ----- no problem with using airy media, and ensuring the roots don't get water-logged underneath, and good air-movement.

I took this pic half an hour ago of the Fdk growing for quite a while now in scoria. It's the one in the middle of the pic - that got transferred to scoria during active growth. The growing hasn't been affected at all. I dump water into the scoria every morning.

[Roberta]

I'd EXPECT Catasetinae in Australia would be well into their active growing period now. Northern hemisphere, many just entering dormancy. (Some of mine are needing a little pushing in that direction)

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I'd EXPECT Catasetinae in Australia would be well into their active growing period now. Northern hemisphere, many just entering dormancy. (Some of mine are needing a little pushing in that direction)

They definitely are Roberta. Well into the active growing period at this time in Australia.

[Roberta]

I have stopped watering, still have quite a few green leaves. Like children at bedtime, "I'm not sleepy, mommy" ... Eventually they'll nod off.