Spring Catasetum Care with Fred Clarke

[@elonahartjes7904]

Thanks!

[@SVKLOrchids]

Thank you so much!

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

that is probably the best explanation of Catasetinae roots I have ever heard, "they don't grow new roots because of the rainfall, they grow new roots in _anticipation_ of rainfall". Interesting about the Mormodes growing, that might be why mine have never done well, I am keeping them too dry in the dry season.

[@SVKLOrchids]

I watered my Mormodes as soon as I got off the call with Fred lol

[@LinusCello75]

Can you ask Fred if Ctmds. Darkonium 'Black Element' will be available soon (and cultural requirements)?

[@SVKLOrchids]

The list will be out soon! I don't usually see clones offered for sale on his list, but maybe he's using it in his breeding? The care will be the same as for others in the Catasetinae group.

[@judyperkins4509]

Ok !!! Love this chat , helps me understand my catasetums but I felt you had to keep it moist all the time ? Sounds like I should be doing like I do with my other orchids, let them border on dry Thankyou very much u2

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@judyperkins4509 Yes, keep the Catasetums damp during the growing season after it’s safe to water

[@FernandaNascimentoOrchids]

Hi Stephen, thank you so much for this wonderful vídeo and all the information. I was on the premiere but I did not want to ask anything while I was listening. I have a Fredclarkeara after dark I got as a present last spring, a division with two PSB. It took its time to start a new growth and it grew well but maybe it did not have time enough to grow more. It has stopped growing end of summer but it is holding on to its 2 leaves. It was outside during summer and I brought it home in November. Temperatur indoors has been around 61 F. From what I heard and if I understood correctly that may have been too warm? In your opinion should I leave it be in the same spot at the windowsill or is it still time to give it a cool down? Thank you very much 🙏💖

[@SVKLOrchids]

That temperature will work very well! I would leave it in its current location.

[@bltperky]

I’m a snowbird living part time Florida (winter..Michigan in summer). Would it work to take one catesedum back & forth between both places? Thank you.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Yes that should work! You might need a grow light (or south facing window) for the cold times you’re up north, but the system should work well!

[@judycook4314]

I started misting my plants 2x a day (per your suggestion) and it helped tremendously. I added a FEW drops of water also. I'm still learning with the helpful videos such as this one.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Excellent! I hope you have a bunch of blooms this year! 🙌😃

[@judyperkins4509]

Does dormancy begin when they loose their all their leaves or when they start to go yellow at the base Sunshine Coast Australia ,

[@SVKLOrchids]

Dormancy is a process that starts with their lower leaves dropping. Typically, they’re dormant when most of the leaves are gone, some of the complex hybrids will hold many leaves.

[@kathleenhoughton6129]

AWESOME talk!! And thanks so much...I always pick things up listening to you two talk and inform us and I did water the Mormedes after hearing from Fred about it's requirements 💚 and I have like Fred says...new growth all over the place and everything has been repotted that's needed it and yes I did have to because of 2 or 3 yellowing mushy old back bulbs giving up the ghost.....hahaha...I appreciate your videos and discussions!!

[@SVKLOrchids]

No problem! I watered my mormodes as soon as I finished the call with Fred lol

[@kathleenhoughton6129]

@@SVKLOrchids me too!

[@danydan3757]

BEST and USEFUL and helpful catasetum talk that i ever watched. Today i repoted three of them one was my gnomus and my two cycnoches hybrid. This explained a lot why i lost some of them when i started growing them in 2019. I wish i knew those information sooner.

[@SVKLOrchids]

I’m glad this is useful! I’m hoping this can be a good guide to point to when folks ask these spring time questions!

[@judycook4314]

I really appreciated this chat! I am working on humidity in the room as discussed because I live in a cold part of the country. I’ve given minute amounts of water to really sad-looking plants, but the last plants I purchased from SVO look really good. Unfortunately the furnace runs into May 😱 and it’s too cold outside for the plants, so I’ll try Fred’s suggestion and up the length of time the lights are on and move them to a warmer room. Thanks again!

[@SVKLOrchids]

Grow tents are helpful for creating good conditions! They’re kind of ugly though 😕

[@garyknight3019]

Wow what an awesome interview..so much great info…I think my head is going to burst😂😂

[@SVKLOrchids]

I agree! I’m glad Fred was able and willing to chat.

[@totinda]

When repotting, do you cut the old roots, since the new shoot will produce a new root system? Os it it not necessary to cut them?

[@SVKLOrchids]

Either way works. It just depends on your preference. I like to cut a lot off but leave some for plant stability in the new pot.

[@orchidhouse]

Great video! Nothing like talking to Fred Clarke to know how to grow Catasetums!

[@SVKLOrchids]

He’s definitely a wealth of knowledge!!

[@bigbluecrab]

Truly fascinating what each specie needs....most especially these. Not even going to tackle these specific need plants, but glean lots of info with the observation skills needed.....common sense, and trial error....

[@SVKLOrchids]

Ugh, so much trial and error 😅 Hopefully it prevents the need for trial and error for others!

[@OrchideenamFenster]

So full of informations! Thank you so much for this interview! If only my english was alittle better... ;) Too bad now I know why Mr Clarke (Sunset Valley/Orchids Inn) won`t come to germany to the great show this march. I was hoping so much to get my hands on one of these dragon`s glade! 😔

[@SVKLOrchids]

Is that the Dresden show? I’d love to see that show myself! Maybe Fred’s plants will be there through another vendor? Do the German subtitles help the video? I always edit the subtitles in English and then have KZbin translate those to several languages, including German.

[@OrchideenamFenster]

@@SVKLOrchids I usually watch your videos with english subtitles to stay in touch with the language. Dresden is gonna be huge! I'm so looking forward to. In "the olden days" pre covid, Sunset Valley Orchids was represented by Orchids Inn, but you could pre-order directly at SVO.

[@johnmickel2330]

Great video --- your favorite orchid. NO yet water here. 2 weeks - like you shirt thanks for that flower.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Still no water at my place as well!!

[@justinsorchidsandmore4398]

I really enjoyed this video Stephen thanks for sharing. 👍

[@SVKLOrchids]

Glad to do it! Hopefully it’s helpful!

[@cameramaam]

I had better go and do some repotting. As ever, this is a most excellent and informative discussion.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Glad it’s helpful!

[@johnmickel2330]

Multiples Bloom in 1 year 🤣😂😁 1959---GRADS Thanks Fred.

[@lourdesrogers806]

Why do pseudobulbs dry up on small catasetum sometimes?

[@SVKLOrchids]

There are lots of reasons! Sometimes they get old and are discarded or the nutrients are needed by the plant.

[@marusevich13]

Stephen, thank you for the video, it is always tremendously useful to tap into Fred’s vast experience. Moving forward, would it be possible to be taking questions from chat during the interview? A few of us listened to the live version and posted our questions to Fred in chat. That would make your programs interactive and even more fun! Thank you!

[@SVKLOrchids]

Hi Maria - I actually recoded this last Sunday, so it wasn't live. For some reason KZbin will say something is "live" if I set a premier for a video I uploaded several days earlier. I might stop doing the premiers if folks are getting confused about if the discussion is live or not!

[@marusevich13]

@@SVKLOrchids wow, I haven't realized that! :) Good to know!

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@marusevich13 KZbin still has some glitches they need to work out 😂

[@vickifisher4061]

Great video Stephen. Very informative.

[@SVKLOrchids]

Thank you!

[@leochen3444]

Thanks for all the amazing contents!

[@SVKLOrchids]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it!

[@LizE2654]

Great talk!

[@SVKLOrchids]

Thank you!

[@LizE2654]

@@SVKLOrchids I just purchased my first catasetum and the PET method of planting has me intrigued. Would I be correct in saying it’s a semi hydro system using organic material rather than inorganic?

[@SVKLOrchids]

@@LizE2654 There certainly are similarities! However, PET replicates the natural habitat of Catasetums but semi-hydro is very unnatural. The bottom layer of PET is inorganic so the stuff in the water well doesn’t turn to mush.

[@MilanOfCreagan]

great video as always

[@SVKLOrchids]

Thanks!!

[@pixie2488]

That’s Great idea 🎉

[@SVKLOrchids]

😃😁

[@michaeldornan7737]

Thanks

[@SVKLOrchids]

Thank you so much!! 😃😃

[@GisellePorto]

Thanks!

[@SVKLOrchids]

Thank you!! 🙌😃