Catasetum Alliance growing

[rcb]

Leathal - yeah looks like it. May possibly be a spider mite infection. But you still have green bulbs. I would water very carefully - almost not at all, and see if you will get a new growth start. As long as there is some green somewhere, there is still hope. It may just go into an early dormancy, and then start again next season.

I would probably unpot it, and leave it unpotted, treat for bugs and spider mites. Reason to leave unpotted is so it dries very quickly after treatment. Then I would treat it like it is dormant, and hope for new growth.

[Leathal]

Thanks Renee! I will do that

[zaeem]

My plant has grown since last report.Another leaf shooting up while the older one bottom leaf yellowing preparing to shed.
When will it ever flower??
Zaeem

[rcb]

Zaeem, Grace Dunn is actually a Clowesia now. So it is Clowesia Grace Dunn. And it flowers during the dormant period. So after it drops it leaves, and you start withholding water and fertilizer, after about a month or so of that is when you typically see the spikes starting.

As your picture shows that it is still actively growing (which it should be) you have got a way to go yet. Patience lol

I also have a Grace Dunn and it is definitely worth waiting for the flowers.

[zaeem]

Renee Hi !

Thanks,I have to wait one leaf about to drop.After all drop off I will have remove it from the watering/spraying list.but another is shooting out! Still growing perhaps?

zaeem

[poochyrocket]

I'm a novice when it comes to growing orchids but love them! I purchased a few months ago at a local Orchid Show a Morm Exotic Treat SVO 1795. It was very healthy but now the leaves are turning spotty brown and looks like it needs water. From what I have read I am probably doing something wrong i.e. watering too much or not watering properly or to much light or not enough! I'm at a loss....help please.

[rcb]

If the leaves are dropping, maybe it is going into it's dormant phase? Don't think you can water these kinds too much during their growing phase, you can definitely water them not enough though.

[zaeem]

Growing but no blooms,Had it for years waiting!

[catasetum-ian]

i am a big fan of catasetums and i really must say this, Renee you really put up one of the most complete and informative forum about Catasetinae i ever came across. i really admire your time and effort for sharing experience about them.

[zaeem]

Ctsm.has shed all leaves some little growth.I wish it should bloom?

[orchids4me]

Wow! How did I ever miss this thread ???
Very informative and very interesting
I think I may try these after all thanks Renee!
Emmaye

[rcb]

Zaeem, it's a little unusual that your plant has matured and shed it's leaves in the summer. How long has it been since it lost the leaves? Recently or did it shed them in the winter?

[syndywindy]

Renee, you mentioned early on about how they don't like the low temps. How low do you think low is and would a night or two in the low 50's be detrimental to the new growth?

[rcb]

Synda, No, a night or two at those temps shouldn't hurt. But, I'd attempt to dry them out a little if possible. Mine went through this a little while ago, they were outside already, when we got a short cool spell, and I wasn't going to haul them all back in for a couple nights. Since the temps were predicted, I just held off waterings those days.

[zaeem]

Renee.

Over the last 2 months all leaves gone.I see one new growth perhaps another leaf or stem? Its summer since May into 85f-90f.Now 90f plus to 100f.Thanks.

[Dendian]

Wow - thank you Renee for this very very informative thread.

I recently picked up at my orchid club a Cycnoches cooperi 'Dark Chocolate' x 'Dark Fudge'. I saw a new growth and thought - ok - time to water it.. and I did. Now I read that I probably shouldn't have watered it yet - there are no new roots from the growth.

It is wrapped really tight in moss (now slightly damp) and I don't want to break off the old roots (which do have new growing tips - but only about 1/8" long). Would it be best to just not water it again and hope for the best - or should I try to unwind that packed in moss and get the slightly damp moss away from the pbulbs?

I suppose a picture would be the best thing.. let me see if I can get one.

[rcb]

Zaeem, did that new growth develop on yet? Or is it possible it is the beginning of a spike?

Dian - I'm thinking leave it be, it'll dry out soon enough. You've got active root tips, nice ones BTW, so the water is not just going to be sitting in there, the roots will take it up. Also, these roots are very brittle, so if you attempt to pull out all that spag, you are going to break some very healthy nice roots. maybe leave it out of the pot to let it dry a little faster, but honestly I wouldn't worry about it.

[Dendian]

Thank you for that reply.. it relieves me to hear I didn't kill it - already... I will let it out of the pot to let the moss dry - in our predicted weather it should dry up in no time flat (its supposed to be 104 this weekend )

[rcb]

Dian, looking at your pics again, did you notice you have a second new growth starting

I want to explain further as well for others, Cycnoches seem to actually sometimes need a little bit of water during the dormant season if it is long. Most of my Cycnoches have a very short dormancy, but when they have a long one, they do seem to shrivel more than the other kinds. Another reason why I wouldn't worry so much about a short premature watering.

[Dendian]

Yes, I did see the teeny new growth - its why I took that third picture - Sooooo COOOOL! I got it in March of this year with its leaves still on it - and it was bone dry so I asked if this was the one I wasn't supposed to water - and was told it was - not until the new growth started... I guess I sort of imposed a dormancy on it, because I did not water it - at all. The last leaf fell off about a month ago I guess. Is this considered a "long" dormancy or a "short" one? The pbulbs looked ok to me.

[zaeem]

Renee,Sorry for late reply.I just repoted the the clowesia roots ok the mix was sour!!two leaves are 2 inches long 5 ulbs are firm.Will post a photo soon.No flower stem.Have to wait?Thanks.

[kaymarie]

Can anyone help with the best way to deflask catasetums. What is the best media to put them in and when would be the best time to do it. It is winter here, another month or two of cold weather. Should I leave them until it starts to warm up, then I can start watering straight away. I've never grown them before though have deflasked and had success with a number of other varieties.

[koshki]

Renee, what an interesting thread (how did I miss this?!). How kind of you to take so much time to share this with us.

So, just to make sure I have this right...a plant that you ignore and don't water for a long time, until you take it outdoors and then hose it regularly? This might be something I could handle!

My only concern is the amount of light it needs. I have a nice space outdoors where they could get full direct sun until about 3 pm, but indoors I do not have that much light. The best I could do indoors is light sufficient to bloom brassavolas.

Are there any plants in this alliance that would thrive in my conditions? Could you recommend any that would be good starters for me?

Thanks in advance!

[rcb]

Katherine, light indoors sufficient to bloom Brassavolas would work for most of the Alliance, especially for the intergeneric hybrids that are popular these days. It may not be the potential best, but it should do well enough. Besides, the important time for the most sunlight is during the middle of summer, when you could take them outside and get more light anyways.

Kaymarie, I've never deflasked this type before. But my instincts are as long as the plants are not declining in flask, I would think to wait until it starts to warm up before deflasking. If the plants really need to be deflasked now, then just try to keep them as warm as possible until your weather warms up.

Watering isn't necessarily a winter summer thing, but a dormant/growing response. So as long as the flasklings are growing (when deflasked), I would continue to water them. When they get bigger, they will eventually start a clear dormant stage, and that is when to withhold water.

[berkeleysgr8]

Leathal, sorry to see your plant in such poor condition. This seems like a pretty hearty orchid... maybe it can be sprayed with a good insecticide and still make it through? It never ceases to amaze me how orchids are designed to survive... they're often tougher to kill than we think! Hopefully rcb (Renee) can share some wisdom about what to do!

[orchidea]

Originally Posted by kaymarie

Can anyone help with the best way to deflask catasetums. What is the best media to put them in and when would be the best time to do it. It is winter here, another month or two of cold weather. Should I leave them until it starts to warm up, then I can start watering straight away. I've never grown them before though have deflasked and had success with a number of other varieties.

I just de-flasked Cyc. cooperi. It's my first Catasetinae de-flasking, so I am not an expert. It's very hot here now, so I think it was a good time to de-flask. I think you are right, it's better to wait till you expect them to start growing right after you de-flask.
You can see my thread I just posted today...Help! Deflasked Cyc.cooperi-mostly keikies.
There are not too many people on this forum who grow these plants.... Renee (rcb) is the best expert, but I think she mentioned that she never de-flasked them.

[kaymarie]

Thank you Orchidea, I checked out your thread, all a help. I will wait till it starts to warm up until I deflask, though I think I will have to do one soon as some of the growths are turning brown. I will just keep them inside and keep them warm and just keep my fingers crossed.
On another note, just watching the Tour de France, an Aussie has won. Wonderful.
Thanks again. Kay

[ChryssM]

Well that is an absolutely AMAZING thread, Renee !!! I will DEFINITELY use a lot of it in my talk but we only have 3 HOURS !!!! LOL !

Thanks again !
.

[bearded orchid]

Amazing thread, Renee. I definitely want to try my hand with these sometime in the future. Thanks.

[zaeem]

Renee Hi!
I am updating you on the one Catasetum(Clowesia) I have been nursing for ages.Its still growing!!!Thanks.

[zaeem]

Renee Hi!.
Some problem in uploading i am re-posting .thanks.

[pikkumyy]

hey renee,
thanks so much for making this thread,
i was at the president of my societies house last weekend, and i saw a heap of flasks of orchids which seemed pretty over grown for the flask.
it turns out that he got a heap of catasetum flasks, and about 5 or six different kinds, but several of each. so he got sick of deflasking them, so he just left them.
so when i asked him about them, he said i could have one and gave me a flask of
Catasetum Louise Clarke
(catasetum Donna Wise 'Lee' HCC?AOS
x
Catasetum Susan Fcuhs 'Burgundy Chips' FCC/AOS)

and i have just deflasked them, and i've been reading this thread and its really helpful, no doubt if i get a question, you'll see it here

out of the flask there is only two which have lost their leaves like they 'normally' do, but they all seem very healthy and are all sending out new shoots, when they get a tad bigger i'll upload some photo's to see if i can water them yet

and i have gently lifted them up a bit so that when i can water them then they will have wet feat but dry buts

anyways what was meant to be a short post has turned into well.... this

[Fishmom]

Wow, what a lucky gift! That cross should be just gorgeous, if it turns out like the picture I found on the Sunset Valley website.

[Fishmom]

I got a Cycnoches cooperi this weekend at our local orchid society show. I'll be reading back over the thread for culture hints!

[syndywindy]

Now that I have a few of these and seem to have developed a fascination with them, I am so glad Renee made this thread!

[pikkumyy]

Originally Posted by syndywindy

Now that I have a few of these and seem to have developed a fascination with them, I am so glad Renee made this thread!

i totally agree

[jim blanford]

I agree also this is a great thread. As a matter of fact I just happen to have a Cyc. that is going in my next MMB. post that was mismarked I bought it as Cyc. Wine Delight and as you can tell that's not what it is, the vendor is going to get back to me I hope with the right name, maybe one of you Geeks can help. Thanks.... Jim.

[dankr]

Don't know what it is; but it's flowers are sure lovely.
Thanks for posting flower pics.

[j0ker918]

After reading this thread and seeing the photos of catesetums out there, I have become obssesed! I just got my first catesetum two weeks ago and it has dropped 2/3 of its leaves. Seems like most instructions say to reduce watering as leaves fall and to stop watering by January 1st, but when exactly should watering stop to be safe? Should I just stop watering it all together now since most leaves are gone, or should I wait until the last leaf falls off, or should I wait until January 1st?

[rcb]

The January 1st idea is not good. What if all the leaves drop in November? Then you are watering for over a month when it shouldn't be watered.

I have stopped fertilizing mine now, the new growths are pretty much matured. I have about 4 that have entered actual dormancy, and they are no longer getting any water. Most of the rest have started dropping leaves, and I've reduced watering, letting them dry out inbetween waterings for longer periods. This is where your plant is correct? Then just water periodically until the last remaining leaves have dropped.

When the last leaf has dropped, or as it is about to drop, no matter what date it is, is when watering should stop.

Then I have a few that are misbehaving and have started new growths, they are getting watered.

[j0ker918]

Thanks for the details! You must be really pampering your plants if they decide to throw up new growths instead of starting dormancy.

[TheBlazingAugust]

WOW!!!! What a great thread!!!! This was an awesome and informative read!!! I have the opportunity of ordering from SVO in the spring, so I am going to be getting as many Catasetinae as I can afford! I actually plan on tapering a whole level of my new light stand I'm going to build just for the Catasetinae! I am SOO excited!!!!

[cairo]

Agreed, this is a great thread. Perhaps the two I had purchased years ago would still be alive today had I read this first. And actually followed the instructions. It is really a difficult thing for me to 'not water' when I see the first signs of growth. Not to be undaunted though, I bought 7 last year from SVO to try again.

I am pleased to say that all are sending up new growth this month under my lights. Four have sturdy 3" growths with loads of new roots. It's fascinating to see the dramatic changes from day to day. You can almost watch them grow! Maybe a time-lapse movie would be in order here. (Great, yet another project!)