Ooo Kev! I just love another ctsm grower who waters their ctsm when they're not supposed to! The plants clearly reward you! These guys are definitely wacky. And my 1st rule is to *always* listen to your plants! If it wants to put out new roots, then who are you (high and all) to contradict it?

I think we all need to take a step back and realize that these plants actually do grow and thrive in the wild, and they get rain throughout the year. Dry periods, wet periods, but where they grow I doubt that there is never rain during the dormant period. Now some might say that you are encouraging it to put out roots during a dormant period by watering it (and that may be true), but I really don't think that they never see water during their natural dormant period.

This is why we love them - they're wacky, unpredictable sometimes, and give us something to do while we're, er recreating ;)

But crack?! How can you afford it in this economy?
Carolyn

Thanks Carolyn,

You know, even when this plant was dropping its leaves and I was keeping it dry, the roots just kept on growing. It just made me too nervous to withhold all water. The PB's have definitely shriveled to some degree, so I don't think I'm giving it too much water.

The crack thing: I know, I know. I pick up some spare change from a few muggings every now and then. Don't tell anyone.

Kev, thanks for the advice! I've found that shoplifting is really hard because of the return policies. And selling myself just didn't work out - I ain't cheap (easy maybe, but not cheap).

Y'all are way funny!

Being new to Catasetae, well, 3 years into the craziness, I've been too nervous to do anything but go by the book, except for that little incident of leaving liquid insecticide inside the crowns, which I hadn't read in the book yet...

Mine have stayed in their sphag in their pots through the winters, so I can't see any new roots. The only thing I've paid attention to is the height of the new growth. When it's reached half the height of its pb (1/3 the height, if the pb's tall and skinny), I've started watering.

The Ctsm pileatum lost its new growth & 2 spikes to the insecticide. Pbs on the other plants continue to grow; nothing has spiked.

If Cycs count in this discussion, the Cyc Midnight Magic (don't know the cross) spiked from an old pb in early Jan. this year. No new roots, no new growth, so no water. The spike dried up. Maddening plant. No crack $$ here. Maybe Nyquil for a more economical consciousness-altering experience?

Whitecat8

WC - my roots were growing on the surface, so I could easily see them. When I pulled the whole sphag ball and plant out of the pot - new roots everywhere. This plant also needs a much larger pot.

C - tried selling myself too, but got tired of all the mosquito bites in the park at night.

Hi Kevin - well, I'm addled, but come by it naturally.
Carolyn's advice is good - listen to the plants, not the season/month, etc. I don't have saccatum (okay, I lust after it), but grow a mess of catasetinae. And have made most of the mistakes. IMO, 3-4" of root needs some moisture, even without foliage. Though I would not pot it up and soak it, but some light spritzing (probably without fertilizer).
I got a handful of catasetinae shipped from the Redlands, brought in by a Brazilian grower - southern hemisphere, early winter...so they were bare p'bulbs in May, and now all are showing small growth (about what I would expect at Christmas time here). It hurts, but I will wait to pot/mount until there's 4" of root and 4" of greens. Otherwise, I'm sure they'll croak so fast I won't see them go. I suspect it will take them a few years to adapt to northern hemisphere seasonal growth/bloom cycles - your plant may be an import and is still in some other time zone. Do what it wants, don't tick it off!
Just opening: Ctsm. expansum; buds on: expansum 'Los Tres Pasas', Cls. russelliana x Ctsm. Breckenridge Onyx 'Janet' (please, somebody, give this a short name!), Clo. JEM's Grand Cascade - life smells good!
Regards - addled Nancy
p.s. my growing/blooming in coastal LA is probably different from Z4!

K - the park? So 90's.

Get with the system: 4sale4myorchids.com

I love all the moral degenerates that ctsm's attract-makes me feel oh so less alone---I agree with Carolyn, listen to your plants--but watch out they might be trying to go the rout of the boxer in million dollar baby--they just might be done with all of your sicko behaviors--PB do pop and die if water goes in and has no way to come out--as for negotiating a price to all you lovelies out there I've got some great ctsm's that can be had with no waiting in the park or dark street corners---

Okay, Mark,

I'll bite, so to speak. What would a person need to do to get some great ctsms from you that doesn't involve the park or street corners?

Whitecat8

RE: acquiring catasetums - one must learn to suck up! I saw a couple of species at a show in one of the local orchid societies' exhibits that enthralled me, found out who they belonged to, stalked him at the next show, chatted casually, pounced, harrassed, whined, etc.
Has it worked? Not sure, but we will "swap lists", so there's hope *IF* I have stuff that he might lust after, the planets align, etc.
IMO, any catasetum, species or hybrid, is desirable beyond reckoning. If you don't have it, you probably ought to track it down.
That's my story. Doubt it, I whack you with my sack of quarters.
Nancy

You don't have to grow Catasetums to be quite nuts and a little bit degenerate! I think any orchid can bring you to the brink of madness or chemical abuse! I'd be more inclined to reach for a downer than an upper, though... crack would just hype me more than I already am!

I'm too much of a novice to add a Catasetum to my collection, but I do drool a bit when I see pictures! I know there's one in my future, though... and until then, I'll keep poppin' the pills or smokin' the chronic... crack is bad for my blood pressure, and not in the budget!

You guys are too funny! I love it!

You guys make me feel so not alone. Thank you.

jodik - You must add one if you drool over them. Maybe you'll be one of those folks who can just let it all be and won't need the drugs. Probably not, but you might be.

K

yes listen to the plants
if they have new root growth, then they want water
if they are being grown in warm temps, they dont even need a "dry winter rest"
they can send out new growth and flowers 2 times a year.
if they get cool temps, then dont water them
they are very easy to grow and bloom
my Wine Delight 'JEM' is just starting to spike as is my Dragon's Whiskers 'Other Worlds', I think my Jean Monneir 'Other Worlds' is close to blooming too

Are they all so large? Or are there some varieties that can be grown in the normal sized home?! Judging by the photos I've seen, I'd need to eliminate half of my present plant collection to have space for one Catasetum! They sure are beautiful, though!

Drugs are part of my everyday ritual, so I can't see going straight after adding a Catasetum to my growing orchid collection! If anything, I'll probably need to up the dose! LOL!

there are saller types out there
any of the Clowesias and most oftheir crosses are smaller

This saccatum hasn't grown much over a foot tall, but the leaves are kind of big and the spike easily reaches 2 feet.

K

Thanks for the suggested types... I'll look for those as I'm getting ready to add a Catasetum to my collection.

They are not only beautiful, they're very interesting in their culture... I was reading how one grower treats them sort of like tender bulbs that are dug up and stored for the winter, then re-planted when new growth begins in spring... I don't know how true and correct that method is, but it was certainly interesting!