Catasetums & Cycnoches 2024

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So to clarify, you don’t remove the old sphagnum, you pot it up with the original sphagnum surrounded by new orchiata? And this causes no problems such as rot? I always remove the old sphagnum and repot in orchiata. Your way sounds much easier and much less traumatic to the existing roots! But I’ve had problems with rotting new growths in the past so I’m paranoid.
Yes. I have never had any issues with the roots. At this size, it really does not matter as the space of the pot (3inch round pot, so it is quite small to begin with!) is mostly just styrofoam peanuts and the roots and some moss.
The sheer amount of the newer roots in the subsequent season will do such a good job sucking out all the water in the pot as soon as you water the plant.
Do you keep your plant bone dry without a drop of water during the entire winter? I think that could cause more trouble than watering every once in a while when the pseudobulbs show signs of dehydration. It really depends on the plant because some plants I have stay plump for much longer time than others. Once all the leaves fall off, I do reduce watering frequencies but I do not completely stop watering.
I simply let the plants be my guide. Never had an issue!
 
Yes. I have never had any issues with the roots. At this size, it really does not matter as the space of the pot (3inch round pot, so it is quite small to begin with!) is mostly just styrofoam peanuts and the roots and some moss.
The sheer amount of the newer roots in the subsequent season will do such a good job sucking out all the water in the pot as soon as you water the plant.
Do you keep your plant bone dry without a drop of water during the entire winter? I think that could cause more trouble than watering every once in a while when the pseudobulbs show signs of dehydration. It really depends on the plant because some plants I have stay plump for much longer time than others. Once all the leaves fall off, I do reduce watering frequencies but I do not completely stop watering.
I simply let the plants be my guide. Never had an issue!
I do keep them bone dry all winter. Maybe I’ll try giving them an occasional drink this winter. I had terrible problems with new growths rotting last year and had to discard multiple plants. Possibly Erwinia but I’m not sure. I didn’t use Phyton because the rumor is that thin leafed plants like stanhopeas and catasetinae can be damaged by Phyton but I don’t know if that’s true. I will likely spray Phyton on the catasetums this year, at least try it on a couple plants and see if they are damaged. I have a long history of various problems with catasetums but I’m determined to be successful eventually!!
 
Cycnoches warscewiczii
SVO 10031 (OMG Giant x Jumbo Super AM/AOS)
It had one large flower on its first bloom in December 2022. My neglect almost ruined the plant in 2023. It recovered a bit in 2024 and now in bloom with two large (over 5in wide) flowers.
These fragrant flowers are more yellow than green in person.IMG_7370.jpeg
 
I do keep them bone dry all winter. Maybe I’ll try giving them an occasional drink this winter. I had terrible problems with new growths rotting last year and had to discard multiple plants. Possibly Erwinia but I’m not sure. I didn’t use Phyton because the rumor is that thin leafed plants like stanhopeas and catasetinae can be damaged by Phyton but I don’t know if that’s true. I will likely spray Phyton on the catasetums this year, at least try it on a couple plants and see if they are damaged. I have a long history of various problems with catasetums but I’m determined to be successful eventually!!
Ok, so can you give a little info regarding how you grow yours and how they went down? That will help me understand & guess the issues you had with your plants better.
If the pseudobulbs stay plump, I don’t think there needs to be any watering.
The only time I ever lost these plants were when I forgot to water during the winter and it shriveled down to dry mess and a sudden rot near the middle of the plant while in bloom. Both were Cycnoches. The one that got hit with a rot was already looking funny with tons of these annoying bumps on the entire plant. The flowers were ok. I was gonna toss it anyway even if it wasn’t for the rot as I just could not stand the ugly appearance of the plant.
The other plant was an amazing plant with great growing & flowering habit. I still miss it.
 
Ok, so can you give a little info regarding how you grow yours and how they went down? That will help me understand & guess the issues you had with your plants better.
If the pseudobulbs stay plump, I don’t think there needs to be any watering.
The only time I ever lost these plants were when I forgot to water during the winter and it shriveled down to dry mess and a sudden rot near the middle of the plant while in bloom. Both were Cycnoches. The one that got hit with a rot was already looking funny with tons of these annoying bumps on the entire plant. The flowers were ok. I was gonna toss it anyway even if it wasn’t for the rot as I just could not stand the ugly appearance of the plant.
The other plant was an amazing plant with great growing & flowering habit. I still miss it.
Well, after waiting for the roots to get about four inches long, I start watering. Grow them on the bench near happy Cattleyas. One day the new growth is a dark brown mush. Plant tries to make another growth later in the summer, but it either rots or doesn’t grow much. I’ve just got this pathogen in my environment. I control or prevent it on other plants plants, mostly with Phyton, but with various other fungicides and bactericides too. But I don’t spray dendrobiums, stanhopeas or catasetums because of fear Phyton will hurt the plant. Dendrobiums and stanhopeas are rarely affected so that’s no big deal. But I’m going to have to be aggressive with the the catasetums this year. They’ve all been repotted with fresh pots and fresh bark. I’ve got about 50 left.
 
Well, after waiting for the roots to get about four inches long, I start watering. Grow them on the bench near happy Cattleyas. One day the new growth is a dark brown mush. Plant tries to make another growth later in the summer, but it either rots or doesn’t grow much. I’ve just got this pathogen in my environment. I control or prevent it on other plants plants, mostly with Phyton, but with various other fungicides and bactericides too. But I don’t spray dendrobiums, stanhopeas or catasetums because of fear Phyton will hurt the plant. Dendrobiums and stanhopeas are rarely affected so that’s no big deal. But I’m going to have to be aggressive with the the catasetums this year. They’ve all been repotted with fresh pots and fresh bark. I’ve got about 50 left.
I've heard that fungicide containing copper can ruin Dendrobium but nothing about Phyton. but then I have not had to use the product on any of my plants. Unless you already have, you can always test on one leaf of each plant and see how they react before spraying on the entire plants.

Regarding watering, I do not withhold water during the dormancy periods and water once the pot contents go bone dry or when the pseudobulbs start to show signs of dehydration.
 
Ahh, it's spectacular. And enormous. What does it smell like? And how is that Grace Dunn coming?
Sweet and fruity. I say ripe banana plus some sort of spice, but I can't pinpoint what spice. Perhaps allspice or clove, but it's a subtle note.
Very rich heady sweet scent with subtle note of spice in short. :)
Grace Dunn is still a few days away from opening up.
I have a Catasetum hybrid opening up as well. Another one starting a spike and a couple others starting a new growth.
 
Banana seems like the perfect scent to go with that yellow color. I have to admit, every time I see this thread marked as 'unread' I am expecting to see photos. Since this thread started my catasetinae collection has gone from 0-8. Of course they are all just stumps right now. It is really nice to see photos and imagine what they might one day become.
 
Catasetum growers seem to all have their definite system of growing. Often when I have tried to explain my method I get instant skepticism so I seldom offer advice. But here I go. I never stop watering, though I use the plant to tell me when to water and how often. Simply my catasetum and clowesia hang in trays that hold water. When they are not active the water lasts 7/8 days, when active the water can be gone in 3 days. My medium is leca, pumice , charcoal and orchiata. My pots are heavily vented. My leaves do not die and fall off, my roots do not desicate, and new growths never seem to rot, bulbs do not shrivel and look unsightly, so perhaps I may not be wrong. Also for the 3rd year in a row I was recently recognized as grower of the year. Rule of thumb is everyone grows in differing conditions so each system has to reflect the conditions. When some growers state they force dormancy and withhold water, I wonder if this expert advice actually comes from an expert? Cheers.
 

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