New growths on Monnierara seem dry. Is it a problem?

[itzi]

I have two catasetum types, a Monnierara Millenium Magic and a Catasetum expansum var. 'rojo'. I bought both of them during dormancy and they've been waking up, the Monnierara already has two little growths and some new roots. I am a little worried though, because the growths on it seem to be drying out, or encountering some sort of problem.

The larger growth has little tiny spots, but is still growing. The smaller one is covered entirely by a dry brown "sheathe", but its still firm and I can see the green growth inside. Is there anything I should do? I know catasetums are sensitive during this time, so I've just let them be and assumed that they'll do what they need to.

I'm growing it under lights still because I use fluorescents and they provide a nice amount of warmth. I'm thinking that the lights plus my low humidity, around 30%-40%, could be the cause.

[Roberta]

I think they are just doing what comes naturally. Mine have little humidity (theiy are in a greenhouse, the ambient daytime humidity is about 20-25%). They will get their energy and moisture from the older pseudobulbs. In the second photo, not sure that is the new growth...sometimes these will start a growth that doesn't make it, then it does another. It is still very early in the "growing" season, the "parent" pseudobulbs look great, new growth won't have much to do with the environment around it until it puts down roots. These root in anticipation of "rain", not in response to it ... so that's why we need roots to be well established before watering.

[itzi]

Thanks Roberta, I assumed it wasn't anything too bad, just wanted to be sure. The growth in the second picture was coming along nicely until a few weeks ago, when it started to brown from the tip. It got the dry brown sheathe which I peeled back, but it just developed it again. I'll leave it like that now, hopefully it turns into something, but if not I'm glad I have at least one developing new growth ^^