New Cycnoches Advice

[Clawhammer]

Hi All.

I received this Cycnoches Golden Showers (lol) today.

Unfortunately it was wet when it arrived, the (re)seller must not have known to withhold water. Would you guys begin to withhold water now or is it too late now that its been drenched?

[SouthPark]

CH ..... refer to this link : Click Here.

The media can be lightly moist ----- but definitely don't have the media drenched or dripping - otherwise roots will die due to suffocation.

And any signs of such unwanted effect would first be seen in yellowing of new leaves or green leaves.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

Hi All.

I received this Cycnoches Golden Showers (lol) today.

Unfortunately it was wet when it arrived, the (re)seller must not have known to withhold water. Would you guys begin to withhold water now or is it too late now that its been drenched?

Tough to say without seeing the roots. Can you see any popping out the bottom of the pot? I'd let it stay dry for another few weeks just to be sure. Cycnoches are even more sensitive to rot than Catasetums.

[Keysguy]

Isn't that a fairly well established new growth I see on the left? If that's the case, why would you be withholding water just as it's reached the point of its lifecycle that it wants water and food?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Keysguy

Isn't that a fairly well established new growth I see on the left? If that's the case, why would you be withholding water just as it's reached the point of its lifecycle that it wants water and food?

It’s not the size of the growth that matters, but the roots. That sized growth may or may not have roots ready for water. That’s why it’s better to err on the side of dryness, especially when the old bulb is plump. There’s enough energy stored in that bulb for a looooot of growing roots and a new bulb.

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Tough to say without seeing the roots. Can you see any popping out the bottom of the pot? I'd let it stay dry for another few weeks just to be sure. Cycnoches are even more sensitive to rot than Catasetums.

Thanks for your input, just the man I was hoping to hear from.

I dropped the plant into a slightly larger terra cotta pot and got a look at the roots. They are just little knubs at this point, 1/4 to 1/2 inch. No rot detected in the old roots.

With this info, I should treat it as if it was never watered, withhold water, and keep an eye on the roots / bulb-shriveling right?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

With this info, I should treat it as if it was never watered, withhold water, and keep an eye on the roots / bulb-shriveling right?

That’s what I would do!

[Keysguy]

Wow! I don't think I've ever seen a new growth that big w/o it having developed some substantial roots of its own.
I'd have to agree to withhold the watering until they get better developed. Good assessment!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by isurus79

It’s not the size of the growth that matters, but the roots.

I disagree on that one (as you already predicted or expected). That's certainly not what I had seen for more than twenty catasetum of various sorts coming out of true dormancy - including fdk, mo, monn, and clo.

Naturally - if the orchid has super short roots and a big bulb that can support the new growth for a while, then no point to water.

However - newly emerging roots of catasetum coming out of true dormancy will not die from getting exposed to water - meaning those roots getting water on them will be no problem - provided that desirable conditions are met. They will not get set back or stop growing - as other growers here have also noticed first-hand (ie. no issues).

On the other hand - if the temperature is very low (relatively low), and/or somebody comes along to over-water the media ------ then sure ----- issues could arise (eg. very cold wet roots causing problems, or water-logged media causing oxygen starvation issues).

You once mentioned that if somebody claims that the sky is red, then you will fight to say it's blue - or along those lines. The real situation is actually the other way around. That is - you're the one that is in the position of saying the sky is 'red', but I'm telling you that the sky is actually 'blue'. Granted - that upon sunset, the sky sometimes can indeed be 'red', but we all get the picture.

You also mentioned that people are spreading mis-information. Interestingly, it has been you that has been spreading the mis-information regarding 'early watering'.

My view is that the myth of newly emerging roots of catasetum coming out of true dormancy dying from 'early watering' ----- is mis-information.

Other growers have begun to see for themselves already - that the 'watering early' thing is a myth.

As long as the catasetum isn't being exposed to very cold temperature during time of watering, and is not put at risk of oxygen starvation (eg. roots in water-logged media or bulb in water-logged media), then nothing bad is going to happen to the newly emerging roots.

[isurus79]

*sigh*

The Dunning-Kruger is strong with this one.