Orchid Chit Chat - Catasetums

[@bigbluecrab]

Just watching your vids this past years makes me see how challenging they can be. I learn lots of tips I can apply to the species I have, even if avenues to experiment with when they stall or rot issues.

[@SVKLOrchids]

That’s great thing about orchids: there’s always more to learn!

[@beckyschlegel6777]

Very interesting!

[@SVKLOrchids]

😃

[@jeanmarais8788]

Hi there. Amazing post. Thank you so much. I live in Margate, which is a holiday town situated in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. I find that my catasetums always follow their natural growth pattern, especially the complete root die back that most Catas will go through. I have many friend who throw their Catasetums in the trash when all the roots die.... harrowing 😂. I over winter my bulbs because i find it works best in areas where unusual cold weather appears (Margate can get quite cold). My plants flower like champions when I do this. The local orchid nursery in my town has had many failures with their catasetums. I informed them about 5 years ago about my over wintering technique, and their Catasetums are much healthier and bloom as it should. Pests absolutely love them... I use Beauveria bassiana strain PPRI 5339 to combat those pests. Works best. Very expensive, but it will last years! For fungus diseases I would recommend bascalid (pyridine-carboxamide). Another expensive one, but lasts years too!!! Very small doses needed.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Amazing that people throw them away in winter! 🤣😂

[@jeanmarais8788]

It's absolute madness. Luckily, I have saved some of them and are shooting new growths as we speak. Still winter here in South Africa and spring is a month away.

[@elpilarorchids]

great chat guys! sad the summer is over for us teachers :( definitely appreciate your looks at some issues. one of ours is loaded with mites but otherwise they are doing good thanks to your guys' help!

[@SVKLOrchids]

Yes, my wife is starting her second week back today! 😱 They start early in her district. When do you go back?

[@elpilarorchids]

whhhaaa...our first day was today....boooooohhhooo :0@@SVKLOrchids

[@MattbyNature]

Very nice! I only own one Catasetum type and it's such a nice plant. I have to compliment your approach to your channel. You seem to emphasize the setbacks and issues much more than your successes so we can all learn with you!

[@SVKLOrchids]

Thank you! I’m hoping to get back to showing some successes once the temps have cooled off!

[@MattbyNature]

@@SVKLOrchids oh, for sure! Especially with walkeriana season approaching we’ll get to see lots of successes!

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@MattbyNature Unfortunately all my walkers / nobilior are still at my friends house in Houston. I should have my greenhouse up soon though, so I’ll have nobiliors to show in spring.

[@judycook4314]

You both have such interesting stories to tell about your orchids. I sent for more Clowesia plants from SVO. I'm guessing not to repot them now but my concern is the styrofoam on the bottom of the pots they came in. I would love to find the Rebecca Nothen Grapefruit Pink but it seems to be elusive. I can't wait to see if you awarded plant puts out male flowers and then wins another award!

[@SVKLOrchids]

Correct, no need to repot anything from Fred until spring!

[@judycook4314]

@@SVKLOrchids 👍🏼

[@dustyolmanolman9933]

Good talk guys. Could the recalcitrant bulb be an effect of the change of climates? Just a thought.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Its possible, but it’s the second year under my care. Even imports from Brazil do better than this one lol

[@sannekemartha7737]

Kind regards from The Netherlands in Europe ! I really would like to have a Rebecca Northern, but like you said, they are not available on the European market.

[@SVKLOrchids]

I think that whomever starts selling them in Europe will make a lot of money!

[@vickifisher4061]

Have had issues here in Nokomis, FL with my ctsms. Lots of late starts, funny growth of leaves of not completely unfurly. Hot & dry, with hardly any rain so far. Spider mite issues and now mealy bug issues too. Lol, William has two of the Cycnoches that I named. 😂😂😂😂

[@SVKLOrchids]

Ohhh, which ones did you name?

[@jeanmarais8788]

Beauveria bassiana strain PPRI 5339 is your best bet in the pest control of all orchids.

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@jeanmarais8788 what’s that?

[@jeanmarais8788]

@SVKLOrchids it is a certain fungul spore that kills various pests, specifically spider mites. It's much safer to use than most of the insecticide or pesticide available for horticultural grade use. It's agricultural grade, just like the bascalid fungicide. Very strong and most efficient.

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@jeanmarais8788 Very interesting! I’ll see if it’s available here.

[@BakedandCooked]

I'm always tempted to try something from the catasetinae group when I see your videos but space is limited and I still 'need' C mossiae tipo, and alba. I also have 30+ recently deflasked seedlings. I had a bad mite infestation pre covid. I never saw any webbing so I didn't figure it out until it was too late for a few plants. The secondary fungal infection was awful too. The moral of my story. If you believe there is some sort of insect treat with a broad spectrum insecticide immediately, don't wait. I lost some FCC awarded plants and some plants from growers that have closed. I keep a first line insecticide (non systemic) along with Physan and Phyton on hand now.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Ugh, losing some FCC plants would be devastating!!

[@woowooone]

Can you tell me what the Pet method of potting is? I tried to Google it, but no luck. And can you tell me the names of your favorites catasetum or catisetniae? And thank you in advance

[@SVKLOrchids]

Here a video for PET! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6mrhHp_n82Yl5Isi=nAvY1LSbTjdvxLU6

[@MilanOfCreagan]

great chat guys as always. wanted to ask what is your experience/knowledge for Cycnoches to abort their spikes? my Cycnoches pentadactylon that I've been growing for some time now has aborted its spikes in the past for not apparent reasons (to me). I have around 20 Catasetinae orchids (mostly hybrids) and all others never done it...yet...I really want it to flower this year as I managed to get 3 healthy and strong new growths from it that are spiking right now. thanks for your reply in advance. happy growing

[@SVKLOrchids]

This is something I’ve struggled with on a only a few Catasetums. It seems to be low humidity with young plants. I’ve seen a correlation but I don’t know the mechanism. The plants seem to grow out of it though.

[@MilanOfCreagan]

@@SVKLOrchids thanks for your reply, Stephen. will keep my eye on the humidity level.

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@MilanOfCreagan no problem!

[@danydan3757]

I grow mine in three different window sill and they have different problems. First problem all have tons of spider mites one has leaf edema and dont want to grow roots and then the baby cycnoches hybrids also have fungal or bacterial infection one ctsm woke up so late the new bulb looks pathetic and i try to feed them more so they can fatten the bulbs but why i wont get any flower spike this season. Two of them rotted. Those with big roots drink a lot. Still if i could i would get the svo 10529 and svo 10612. William has great plants and promising spikes.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Sounds like some serious problems! I hope you’re able to overcome them!

[@michaeldornan7737]

Really interesting as I was in a bit of a kerfuffle as to what to do about my catasetums. Went away for 10 days and had some help meanwhile for watering etc. but the temperature just soared and I came back to a catasetum with mites, I believe, I cut off the leaves and tomorrow I shall repot it and hit to with some insecticide. Is that wise? The others are doing ok, it appears. Thanks

[@SVKLOrchids]

Definitely hit with a miticide, not an insecticide! Bayer 3 in 1 has imidicloriprid which works well. I’d avoid repotting until next spring otherwise you might injure the roots.

[@michaeldornan7737]

@@SVKLOrchids will do thanks

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@michaeldornan7737 no problem!

[@hillbillyorchids]

😂😂 funny bloopers! Its been a rough year for catasetum. I have had good bad and ugly! Small ones did so poor! They may not make it. Just a weird season. 😕

[@SVKLOrchids]

I agree! Definitely been weird for a lot of Catasetum growing folks this year.

[@hillbillyorchids]

@SVKLOrchids Yea we have discussed it some. If peruvianum don't make it let me know. We can try again next year. 😆 maybe will be better year next year!

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@hillbillyorchidsIt’s still growing!! Looks good. I can’t wait until it’s big enough to get outside. The heat should speed up its growth.

[@hillbillyorchids]

@SVKLOrchids Ah awesome! I'm glad its turning around.

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@hillbillyorchids heck ya! 🙌

[@lyndamodeste7902]

I only have one catasetum but i would like more it's so beautiful.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Fred has a new list out and more to drop this month!

[@lyndamodeste7902]

@@SVKLOrchids thanks I'll have to wait for the orchid collectors to start selling in Trinidad

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@lyndamodeste7902 Are there any orchid vendors over there?

[@lyndamodeste7902]

@@SVKLOrchids where i live orchid sellers travel and buy bring bk and sell or order as im not in a persition to order or travel

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@lyndamodeste7902 Ah, I remember that Ansellia you told me about, but I didn’t realize that was the only way to get orgs over there! Seems like an orchid nursery could do well out there!