monn millenium culture advice/help

[hypostatic]

Ok, so I need some advice with this plant. I've had it for about a year, and It seems to be stuck in its growth.

Here is a picture of the pant right after the flowers fell off:


And here are some pictures of it currently, with the previous pbulb visible:
















I think I'm worried about it because the leaves seem a bit frail? 2 of the leaves seem to have bent/folded from their own weight, or wind, or mechanical damage.

Also, I've read that other members' plants are blooming around now, while mine doesn't even have a plump pbulb yet...

Any advice?

[kindrag23]

It seems that it is just in growth mode right now. How often do you fertilize or what kind do you use...I may be wrong but it looks like the pot you have it in is also to big and does not look like it drains very well. Just MHO, but if it is in fact growing a new phulb it may be to young to bloom yet. Also did this plant ever go into winter rest last year?

---------- Post added at 05:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:33 PM ----------

I also would not worry to much about leaves, mine get abused and still rock on lol! I am talking getting stuck in my window when opened and closed, falling over when I do a flush/slow water in the sink....me knocking it off...yeah....abused....

[isurus79]

I agree with kindrag. This plant is just in growth mode so nothing wrong with it. I'd say that its position compared to its light source got changed so the new growth is bent. That's not a health issue though.

[orchidsarefun]

does that pot have drainage holes ? I would repot into a 50/50 chopped sphagnum and medium bark mix - pot must have holes in the bottom for excess water to drain out. Check the roots and see if they are healthy.
Further I would ensure that the plant is getting sufficient light - have you a south-facing window ? Allow it to have 3-5 hours of filtered sunlight if you can, and turn the plant every few days. The growth may be collapsed-looking because of insufficient light/quality of light.
Mine is flowering now - 2 spikes - you are right to be concerned as we are heading into the dormancy phase. Just my worth.

[hypostatic]

Ok, so the pot has a drainage hole on the bottom so water can drain out. Although I don't water it so much that water would come out; I only spray to keep he sphag moist.

The plant did go into winter rest. The large bulb next to the leaves is from last year's bloom.

I'm fertilizing about 2x per week with a 200 N ppm fertilizer.

I think it's also not getting enough light -- my light reader read about 500FC where it was getting the most light.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by hypostatic

Ok, so the pot has a drainage hole on the bottom so water can drain out. Although I don't water it so much that water would come out; I only spray to keep he sphag moist.

The plant did go into winter rest. The large bulb next to the leaves is from last year's bloom.

I'm fertilizing about 2x per week with a 200 N ppm fertilizer.

I think it's also not getting enough light -- my light reader read about 500FC where it was getting the most light.

Definitely needs more light. And watering should be done in waves so that you pour lots of water and then let it dry out completely or nearly completely before watering again.

[hypostatic]

Huh, ok. Should I be like drenching it until water flows out the bottom? And how dry should it get? Like should the sphag get crunchy?

[kindrag23]

I let mine get slightly crunchy but still a little springy. I would possibly move to a smaller pot with more drain holes. Sometimes the outer layers on mine dry out quickly and the inner portion stays moist. If you question when to water use a wooden skewer to insert in the middle to pull out and check the moisture level inside.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

I let mine get slightly crunchy but still a little springy. I would possibly move to a smaller pot with more drain holes. Sometimes the outer layers on mine dry out quickly and the inner portion stays moist. If you question when to water use a wooden skewer to insert in the middle to pull out and check the moisture level inside.

[katrina]

Catasetum need a LOT of water and a LOT of fertilizer during their growth phase. They grow so fast that a lack in either area will result in weak foliage...which is what it looks like might be your issue there. It can also really delay the plants ability to grow...which could be why your growth is behind what would be considered "normal". Typically, at this point in the season, most Ctsm pbulbs are mature and starting to lose leaves and/or very close to being mature...yours is still a good ways away from that stage.

When they are in their active growth phase I have mine sitting in a saucer of water and they are acclimated to nearly full sun. I use granular fert in the pot and fertilize at least once a week w/a liquid when I fert the other orchids. They are exceptionally heavy feeders.

I hold the water back in the Spring until the new growths have roots about 3" long but before the heavy watering they are already in the brightest light I can give them. As soon as the roots are long enough, I add the granular fert (I like Dynamite-red bottle) and they go into the mix w/the rest of the orchids w/the liquid fert. Once it's warm enough to move all the plants outside, I spend a week or two acclimating them to nearly full sun all day long. They're only protection is a swath of 30% shade cloth but it's such a thin swath that it doesn't cover them completely except for from around 1pm until around 3pm.

I would try moving it to an area that is much brighter...be careful of burning so do it slowly. I would get into bright light and up the watering and fert...in hopes that I could get that new growth to mature.

The great thing about these plants is they store a lot of energy and nutrients in those fat pbulbs so even if this one does not become strong enough to do too much...the older pbulb will likely sprout another one when the timing is right. Don't be surprised if it does it w/out going into full dormancy. Moving forward just make sure you supply the water and fert it needs to make the next one big and fat and strong.