Watering on Monn. Millennium Magic "Witchcraft" with spike AND new growth?!

[Roberta]

The year-old roots of Catasetinae are alive and functional, but it's the new roots that develop with each year's new growth that are the "engine" for the development in that year. Ideal time to repot is before the new roots start to elongate, so they make themselves at home in the new medium without being disturbed.

[SouthPark]

So ------- in general, if a catasetum type plant has enough bulbs to support the new growth while coming out of dormancy, then no need to water.

But for anybody that decides to do watering when coming out of dormancy - for any reason ------- just avoid relatively cold and clammy conditions in the pot. Otherwise maybe something bad could happen. But for warm enough conditions with water allowed to keep moving a bit inside the pot and on the roots via evaporation and through sphagnum wicking ------- no problem.

[Roberta]

Right... if it is a healthy plant with big, fat pseuobulbs, it has all the reserves it needs for the new growth. If the pseudobulbs start to shrivel (I have noticed that sometimes in the late winter) I'll give a little bit of water around the edges, as I know that you do. But only a little, and no fertilizer. A reasonable question, if the new roots are down in the medium, how can you know when they have reached the desired length of 3-4 inches (7.5 -10 cm)? I have noticed that the developing leaves tend to be about the same size as the roots. If I can't see the roots, I wait until the leaves have started to spread out. Then you don't risk trapping water. (When the new growth starts, the leaves are still rolled up in a "tube" and so could trap water that could rot the growth.) It may be less critical where both days and nights are warm... I'm growing in a temperate area, even the GH gets cool at night in the winter and early spring.

[nzadro]

Many thanks for your responses Roberta and SouthPark!

Okay, so if I have this right:
- there is no spike, but new growth, i will add it has already gotten bigger. It seems the plant never went dormant.
- no watering as the large bulbs are hella plump and can sustain it. Or jist a tiny drink if bulbs are shriveling.
- repot soon, I have mine in pure sphag now (as it came from vendor), but plan to add some bark bits for extra aeration.
- post repot, no watering or fertlizing till new bulb roots are a few inches long.
- hope the monn doesn't trick me into thinking it has a viable spike again 😉

Happy New Year! Wish you lots of orchid growth 🥳

[Roberta]

Depending on the size of the plant, don't be in too much of a hurry to add bark to the mix. When these get going, aeration is less of a problem than keeping them wet enough. Sphagnum works really well. When you repot, the sphag that is full of roots, don't even try to separate out the old stuff. Just add new around it, so that new roots will grow into it. (Eventually,when the old roots really die - another year or two, then easy to remove old stuff) I use small bark once I get up to a 6 inch (15 cm) pot or so because at that point it uses too much sphag, and the larger volume tends to say wet enough.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

Treat it like it is just coming out of dormancy. Repot now and then water when the new roots are 4-8" long or the old pbulb is severely wrinkled.

Originally Posted by Roberta

If you want to give a little water around the edges that's OK, but I think it is too early to start serious watering. Certainly no fertilizer yet. The plant can support the blooms on the reserves in the pseudobulb. With new growth, you want to wait until new roots are about 4 inches long. It's really hard to not water, but maybe put your hands in your pockets when you approach the plant. The beginning of new growth is too soon... you can rot the new pseudobulb or make the roots stall.

This is exactly right. No need for water at all until the new roots are minimum (waiting longer is actually better!) 4 inches long. Then start watering again.

---------- Post added at 01:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------

Originally Posted by nzadro

Okay, so if I have this right:
- there is no spike, but new growth, i will add it has already gotten bigger. It seems the plant never went dormant.
- no watering as the large bulbs are hella plump and can sustain it. Or jist a tiny drink if bulbs are shriveling.
- repot soon, I have mine in pure sphag now (as it came from vendor), but plan to add some bark bits for extra aeration.
- post repot, no watering or fertlizing till new bulb roots are a few inches long.

I think this is exactly right!