Catasetum - To water or not to water ?

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Ah, so this is a second growth coming in during the active growth season? The new roots will be fine. Second growths are common and don't seem to mind wet media.

Thanks very much Steve! Really appreciated that information! I love to follow good recommendations and advice from experienced growers of these varieties of plants. I'm really going to stay with the recommended procedure of leaving the new roots without water for plants coming out of dormancy until they become adequately established. The earlier thing I mentioned about watering new roots of plants coming out of dormancy is just to test the waters. I strongly believe that from just 1 or 2 future trial attempts - I will find what you, Bud, Fred and team already knew for ages. The stop-new-root-growth behaviour when coming out of dormancy is likely programmed-in/built into the plant by an evolutionary thing.

[orchidsarefun]

They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
I'm repotting my monster catasetums

Roots are in wonderful shape, very few dried out/dead. See first picture.

However biggest surprise is the brand new growth , ironically on the same side I was watering weekly. Notice the healthy roots.

Last pic is of the new growth. There are 3 new growths thus far + 1 tiny new growth

[camille1585]

Wow, they do seem in great shape!

[orchidsarefun]

I've had to cut 3 inches of roots from the base on each to fit the new pot. Roots mostly firm and pliable. Old medium was moist and smelt great.

Repotted 😄

The tiny new growth is visible in the foreground. I don't expect it to grow but who knows...

[isurus79]

Looks good!

[orchidsarefun]

Growths around 9+ inches tall. I'm watering regularly and have added osmocote fertilizer as a top dressing. Pot is permanently standing in a saucer of water. In a South facing window, unfortunately a while before it can go outdoors.

[orchidsarefun]

2 weeks later. Shows how fast these grow...

[gngrhill]

Mine has a tiny , one inch new growth, but the tips of the leaves are brown. Any help ??
My other has a bud sized new growth started so I am trying a little water on the back side of the pot.
What do you use for medium ??

[orchidsarefun]

Mine grew to this large size, I'm convinced, because I used to use 1 year old horse manure in bottom third of pot. Rest of mix was bark and sphagnum. The current mix is mostly bark/sphagnum because the roots basically fill the pot.
When these go outside I also top dress with a teaspoon of bone meal and blood meal respectively. Plus osmocote.
I don't know why the leaf tips would brown on yours.

[gngrhill]

Thanks for the tips