Catasetum Winter Update

[@annatydniouk5739]

Thank you, Stephen, for your videos. Your videos on catasetums are very important and helpful to me. It is very reassuring to watch them because as a new grower I am very uncertain about how to grow them. You ctsm. Fong Cing is just amazing! Two of my catasetums (a hybrid bwn Rebecca Northern and catasetum spitsii and cl. rosea) have spikes. I hope it will bloom soon. It is so difficult to wait :).

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@annatydniouk5739 both of your plants should have really, really nice flowers!

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

Remember when you used to just stick them on the floor of the greenhouse and forget about them until March?

[@SVKLOrchids]

Ah, simpler times! lol

[@hillbillyorchids]

Great update 😊 wow you got your 1st new growth! Cool! 😊

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@hillbillyorchids is it spring yet!? 😂

[@hillbillyorchids]

@SVKLOrchids Right 🤣 January has been rough! 🤣

[@SVKLOrchids]

@ This current Arctic blast coming down looks intense! 🥶

[@hillbillyorchids]

@@SVKLOrchids It really is! We have a lot of - minus weather ahead 🤬🤬🤬🤣🤣

[@SVKLOrchids]

@ Yeesh! That sounds terrible!

[@kathleenhoughton6129]

Yip! Time to check the bulbs on the collection, I had to divide and repot 2 plants this week....and planning on repotting all of them now that they're dormant, I have decided to put all of them in spag. Moss since they seem to do better in it and I don't have to water so much.. .watering often in PNW has a tendency to be to much....great video Stephen!

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@kathleenhoughton6129 it’s fun when they start waking up!!

[@judycook4314]

I enjoyed this video. I appreciate all of the good suggestions you share a well as those of others. It's SO dry in my house, so I'm trying a suggestion that Fred Clarke shared. I've put my pots in jars that have water in them to help provide humidity for the roots (not touching the roots though). I also send a little water through when I see shriveled bulbs. My plant envy is William Green's Rebecca Northen Pink Grapefruit. When the weather gets warm enough for safe mail of plants, I'll be on the hunt for one, again. The ones I have are all from SVO but really want just the RN. Not sure if I can get that from them. I hope you get the plant to judging! I have a deep wine, spotted color plant that had male flowers. It has the toothy edges, and I love it!

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@judycook4314 Those little jars with water are definitely a game changer for a lot of people!!

[@violiningjack]

Your plants are looking good. I think my clowesia hybrids are just starting to push out spikes. But one of them is also pushing out roots from the base of a spike. Has this ever happened to you?

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@violiningjack yep, they do that sometimes!

[@almacardinale630]

Ma questo tipo di orchidea in Italia in Campania può stare all'esterno o è meglio in casa? Ti vedo a mezze maniche anche se è gennaio posso chiederti che temperatura hai tu là?

[@SVKLOrchids]

Yes, they can be outside if temperature is above 13C! I keep mine inside this time of year and take them outside for the video.

[@almacardinale630]

@@SVKLOrchids grazie 😊

[@SVKLOrchids]

@ 🙏

[@JuliePascal]

What type of insecticide works best for catasetums? I have two little plants and they get spider mites so bad. I feel like I've got the growth and dormancy parts down good enough. But the bugs are so bad they just get smaller and smaller.

[@SVKLOrchids]

For spider mites, there are a number of products you can use. Just be sure to rotate the product because they can develop immunity if you only use one product. Here is a good article: staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/UsualSuspects-Common%20Orchid%20ProblemsbySueBottom.pdf Hopefully that link shows up! If not, just google search for "sue bottom spiker mites" and you'll get her article posted to the St. Augustine Orchid Society page. I've also found "Doktor Doom" spider mite spray to be effective for knocking them back. I've also just started trialing predatory mites.

[@poornimawagh9315]

Do you water the dormant catasetums that are blooming? I have a blooming one where the bulb has shriveled some. Would love your advice. Should I water the shriveled one or not. It is the spotted Grinch catasetum and the pseudobulb has shriveled a bit. Thanks!

[@SVKLOrchids]

I'll water any of them that get shriveled bulbs! Flowering plants often see some shriveling, so I'll give them a small sip every now and then.