Catasetum Culture

[@gabriellawright8472]

Thank you for information. Started to grow Catasetums. They are incredible orchids. Already have 3. 🥰

[@adiposerex5150]

Thanks, Wade. I consider this the definitive guide to growing these beauties because you live closer to me (Illinois) than most who record videos on Catasetinae care.

[@brad823]

Great video Wade. I've been looking for an informative video like this to learn more about the Catasetums. I'd like to add a couple to my collection this spring. Thanks!

[@Sunshine-tg7lx]

I always enjoy your videos. I've learned so much from you. My witch craft bloomed and it inspired me to purchase more. Now,I have at least 6 catasetinae type seedlings from Fred Clarke and no spikes yet. I'm watering well with fertilizer every other day, and they get plenty of air and sun. Each of the new growths are much larger than its original little bulb. No yellowing of the leaves. Thank you!!

[@grahamclark3338]

Great video. I got my first datasets this year and all your experience is most helpful. Many thanks

[@miche7032]

Thanks for the info on catasetums , they're new to me so I need a lot of tips for mine ...

[@lanastar8451]

Wade, I just Love your Catasetums!!!! They are so healthy and Big!!! Great Collection! ;)

[@IrinasGarden]

Thank you very much this orchid is new to me.I live in Greece so the temperatures are in the mid 20s C.

[@orchidsadutchy4940]

Very nice video, Wade. I got a Cycnodes Wine Delight this summer. I hope I can get it to bloom. I enjoyed the video a lot, and I admire the enormous catasetums you have. I think our summers in Finland are not long or warm enough to grow them to their full potential, but it's enough to get them to bloom at least. :) Have a great weekend!

[@TracMcNguyen]

Wow that some amazing large ad healthy ctsm orchids. Thanks for the tips!

[@dillyorchid9393]

Well said. I always look forward to your vids. I have 2, they had/have mites. I treated them the same but one lost 3 leafs. Oh well. Did u mention what low temps they can handle? I've got the high! lol. However, they were outside (mites) and my nighttime temps have gone to 40, I'm having a difficult time finding isolation they'll continue to grow with, inside... thanks as always. xoxo from CO

[@wadesorchids7219]

They can handle into the 50s without any trouble but 40s are a bit tough on them. If you find that you have a bad problem with mites you probably should get a miticide. Take the plants outside to spray them. During the growing season you might want to spray them every 2-3 weeks just to be on the safe side.

[@lkasdlf]

Hi Wade... thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I have a couple questions that after scouring the web, I could not find an answer for. I live in NY and have my ctsm's under lights (approx 16 hours of artificial light that runs congruently with natural light) in east, west and south facing windows. Many of them are already losing their leaves... is this normal? It seems early (though in most cases bulbs are as large or larger than previous years' growth) In addition, some of the one's that are losing or have lost their leaves are putting out new growths. Should I continue to grow them under lights (for longer day lengths)? Finally, I understand that when leafless, they should be in decent humid environment, but does light matter (I wouldn't think so, but maybe?). Thank you so much for taking time to answer these questions.

[@IrinasGarden]

Thank you very much!

[@annaisgrowing]

Great video. I am also working on a catasetum update video--your plants look way nicer than mine!

[@denisesorchidparadise1411]

you have talked me into it! I'm going to try one! thank you

[@marcstewart9630]

they are awesome plants to grow

[@RickBrownFloridafriendlyplants]

I was going to mount some but you changed my mind. Great info.

[@wadesorchids7219]

It is possible to mount them but it’s more a problem than a solution. Wish you well.

[@RickBrownFloridafriendlyplants]

@@wadesorchids7219 I appreciate that. Just getting started with Catasetums and your info is giving me confidence I will succeed. Thank you.

[@HUMANPROPULSION]

great catasetums

[@demapa19ga]

Thanks for your video. How many weeks or days do you mist the Catasetum before you water it full?

[@wadesorchids7219]

I go more by the height of the leaves lately. Usually the second set of leaves is coming out. I’d guess at least 2 weeks from the time you see roots coming out of the bottom of the new growth. By that time, the roots are over 1” long. I still don’t water to the point of saturation. At this point I just want to get the media moist. You’re probably realizing that it is something you get a feel for with experience. Just remember that almost all the old roots die and the only really active roots are the new ones that are starting their growth with the new leaves. I hope I’ve helped more than confused you.

[@IrinasGarden]

Tanks for your video! I bought my catasetum just now. Can I repot them?

[@wadesorchids7219]

Hi Irina. Don't repot them this year any more. Even now although my plants are still green the roots have pretty much stopped growing and will not advance into any new media. Anything that you do has a good chance of damaging some roots. Besides, if you are in the Northern hemisphere, your plants will be heading into their dormant phase soon and water should come less and less.

[@CLORNDA]

Me gustan los consejos y las instrucciones claras están dando entiendo bastante el idioma gracias

[@wadesorchids7219]

Gracias! I wish I knew Spanish.

[@gardengnomejay4122]

I think I should start growing catasetums

[@marcoeun2030]

I have that one on 0:33 same petals same shape but mines green colour yellow in the middle..

[@growingthings6232]

Great Video ..hmmm you do have big hands lol Thanks for the shout out !!!!

[@HamimChowdhury]

A newbie and new to your channel ! Do you feed Osmokot as well as calMag as additive to your catsm ? One of my mounted Catsm spiking . How do I care to save buds ?

[@botchi1]

Thank you Wade. Very fine informative video. Just one question. How do they manage in nature. In the wild. There's no one that can start and stop the rain fall. Do you know how they grow in the wild. Best wishes. Bo.

[@wadesorchids7219]

They grow in an area that has dry and wet seasons. My guess is that they developed this type of growth habit as a way of coping with the extended dry season

[@givmi_more_w9251]

Thanks for the very informative video! But still one question left: Will cooler temperatures trigger them to go dormant? I have them in my kitchen and the heating is still off, so the nighttime temps get to 15, 16°C. I am already on my toes when it comes to watering, but they still demand a lot, otherwise the backbulbs would shrivel. I am bit unsure whether the plant will tell me when it goes dormant or if I have to give them conditions to bring them into dormancy. Best regards and keep up the good work! You have some really nice Catasetinae, that Clowesia bulbs were amazing!

[@wadesorchids7219]

Courier6 That is a bit cool for them but don't worry. The plants will go dormant on their own. Just follow the signals. Some of us with a number of Catasetums treat them all the same and in those cases the ones that are still active are encouraged into dormancy but they will enter it on their own time if you let them.

[@givmi_more_w9251]

Thank you so much for the advice!

[@missanna208802]

I feel like these would do well in a regular peat/perlite mix. Sphagnum moss isn't much different..holds a bit more air, but a smattering of perlite, I feel would do the same. This thought occured to me after seeing a dendrobium nobile hybrid in straight peat. Roots were amazing. I've had phals in coir for ages and they love it, but peat would be the easiest thing in the world to repot with. As long as the pot is small enough to not be soggy and the root system is large enough to suck up the water, I feel like that would be a great option for these. Have you ever tried this?

[@wadesorchids7219]

I've never seen a Catasetum in a peat mix. Lately, I'm actually mixing about half sphagnum along with half Cattleya mix (medium bark and perlite).

[@missanna208802]

See, that is so weird to me considering some grow in actual dirt and some in the cracks of palm leaves that are basically full of broken down plant material. I mean, seeing a nobile in straight peat was also strange, but it had been in there for a long time and the roots were perfect. Sphagnum isn't too different from peat. I re-watched the catasetum webinar and Fred said to not let the moss be deeper than 3" so they dry out fast enough, but yeah..if the pot is small enough etc I think it could work just fine. However, I haven't been brave enough. I stuck a dendrobium in fine coir mix and it has "eaten" the mix. I just potted my new catasetum in fine coir mix with moss on top. It basically has no roots from being imported from Redlands but there are a few root initials that are just now barely starting to show through the base layer and I think it will survive with setback. I don't think I will get all of them..it looked like a few had made it to an inch and then died. I heard Redlands was a muddy mess this year and indeed, two plants I ordered basically died in transport to Redlands, so I wasn't charged for those, but nothing came through totally unscathed. I can great fungals, but there isn't much a small hobbyist can do about bacteria.

[@wadesorchids7219]

missanna208802 I have seen plants doing well in media that I would never have thought they would survive in. Also, we grow in different conditions and Catasetums are ravenous when they are growing. If you have a bit of experience there is certainly nothing wrong with experimenting. I will be interested in your results.

[@ivan11cast]

Wade , when the growth sheds its leaves, what do u do with that trunk? Does it become a new pseudobulb? Im confused as to why they sometimes have a new bulb coming up and a new growth coming

[@wadesorchids7219]

The bottom of the new growth forms into the pseudo bulb. Some (depending on the breeding) have a tall, thin bulb. Cycnoches and hybrids with them are like that. Others form a more traditional pseudo bulb. Also, there are cases that the plant just seems confused. I have a plant that almost always has the first couple leaves fused together and I have to cut them so they can open. So there are sometimes strange things.

[@caseytoumani2813]

I recieved my cycnoches chlorochilon about two weeks ago. I am new to this type of orchid. It appears to be putting out a flower spike. Should it be flowering this time of year? And will an organic fertilizer be alright.

[@wadesorchids7219]

Congratulations! I don’t have chlorochilon but I think this is close to the right time for it. Maybe a touch late but nothing to worry about. Organic is ok. Usually I give time release fertilizer when there are good roots in the spring and also use an MSU type fertilizer. That lets them plump up nicely. Remember not to overpot them. They like to be so they need water every 2-3 days. Let me know if I can help anytime!

[@IrinasGarden]

Furthermore I want to ask you something on behalf of a friend of mine.She has a catasetum since May,it's a small plant.There is an old pseudobulb and one small growth.The old pseudobulbs has been left with only one leaf.The growth refuses to grow up.So she is afraid that during the winter the small growth would die.What do you suggest for her to do.

[@wadesorchids7219]

With Catasetums always follow what the newest growth is doing. If it's growing, keep it moist. If the leaves begin to yellow, slow down on water. And then follow the reduction to the point of not watering at all when it loses it's leaves or most of them. Hope I've helped and good luck.

[@tksixangels44]

How much of the osmocote do you use? I've heard that people , who cut the dose in half ended up with baby burned roots.

[@wadesorchids7219]

I use about a tablespoon per 6" pot. Osmocote can burn roots. I usually sprinkle it on after the roots have come out and burrowed into the media. Remember, you shouldn't be watering them until the new roots are about 3" or 4" long.

[@o_o8203]

Any tips on Chysis limminghei? It looks like a catasetum-type but I can tell by the roots (and the fact that some older bulbs still have leaves) that the care probably isn't the same

[@wadesorchids7219]

o_o I have Chysis bractescens and I reduce watering during winter but I don’t stop watering entirely. Also, no fertilizer during the rest period. Good luck with yours!

[@o_o8203]

@@wadesorchids7219 thanks!

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

Thanks for informative video Wade. Can you give me the name and receipe for the spider mite pls. Thanks

[@wadesorchids7219]

MaryG Orchids The mixture is 1 cup each of alcohol and Formula 409 and about a tablespoon of dish detergent in a 1 gallon container. This will work as a preventive measure every 1 or 2 weeks and on mild infestations.

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

what is Formula 409? doea it have a name? I live in UK, do you think i can find it here?

[@wadesorchids7219]

MaryG Orchids Formula 409 is a brand of household cleaner. I really don't know what would be equivelent. Try it with just the alchohol and detergent

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

Thanks Wade, does it smell of chlorin?

[@wadesorchids7219]

No, I don't detect chlorine in the smell.

[@1jsolano]

Hi Wade it's late December and my catasetum hasn't dropped it's foliage yet. I had it outside during the summer and it put out two bulbs in late July to early August, then tipped over during a wind storm that caused it snap off the newest leaf on one of the bulbs. I don't know if it went into shock, but since then it hasn't really done much else, and again hasn't dropped foliage. What advice could you provide? I can send pictures if you'd like. Thank you and happy new year!

[@wadesorchids7219]

Time to induce dormancy. If you are watering cut the amount in half and then stop in 2-3 weeks. Place it in an area that gets into the 50s at night if possible. Please let me know if the leaves don't start to yellow after that.

[@1jsolano]

Will do, thank you for your advice and have a happy new year!

[@1jsolano]

Wade's Orchids Hi Wade, I noticed leafs starting to yellow a bit more, but I noticed a new growth. Not sure if it's a flower spike or pseudo bulb.

[@wadesorchids7219]

Jorge S. if you see new roots forming and the growth keeps growing it is coming out of dormancy. I had one this fall that started a new growth as it was going into dormancy. It only got a few inches tall and then stopped. These things happen.

[@edwingrebslrac8223]

HI Wade, your video makes me wanna own one of these interesting orchids! I live in singapore where its hot and humid year round with a good amount of rain. Do you think I can grow one well here? any idea?

[@wadesorchids7219]

I can't say for certain but you might have difficulty with the dormancy. The best I can think of is to check with someone growing in conditions similar to yours. You might be able to induce dormancy by reducing water without cooling it but I can't say for certain.

[@edwingrebslrac8223]

Thanks Wade think I'll go do more research!

[@geraldesorchids8641]

i cant wait to grow catasetum orchids

[@Kokoro-Hime]

What if it's not looking that they are going dormant? November and still have all they're green leaves.

[@wadesorchids7219]

Many of mine are green too. I have cut watering in half and will lessen it more in a few weeks. Some take till January to go really dormant. Temperature drop is also important. Try to put it someplace cool.

[@Kokoro-Hime]

@@wadesorchids7219 thanks for replying! Will try your suggestion. Is this forcing them to go dormant? Putting them in cooler place and less light?

[@colinmacdonald2110]

hi. do I have to grow them in a covered area or can I Grow them in a Shade house?

[@wadesorchids7219]

Colin Macdonald A shade house is fine. The only trick is you have to manage the water they receive when they begin their dormant cycle.

[@blancaacosta333]

Hi Wade. I have a Rebecca's Daughter x Grace Dunn. You said to stop watering when the leaves fall off and thereafter the blooms spikes will appear. Once it is blooming, will I need to water it for sake of the blooms?

[@wadesorchids7219]

No. Do not water during that period at all. At the same time that the leaves are dying the roots are also and they can no longer absorb anything. All the energy for blooming is in the bulbs including the moisture. You may see the bulbs shrink a bit but don't worry.

[@blancaacosta333]

Thank you very much. I didn't know this and I would have drowned my catasetum. I truly appreciate your advice.

[@angelg968]

This is useful information. I have my first two catasetums and Iast week, I noticed both of them started to have spikes. I didn't know if I should continue watering because of the spikes even though the leaves of one of them started to turn yellow. I am glad I stumble to your video. Today would be the last time they get water. Great video. Thank you so much. I envy your collection.