Ctsm. Rebecca Northern (pink) - Orchid Board

JennS · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 03:12 PM

Does anyone know any care tips for this guy (I know the name was changed, but not sure what it is now)? I have one and I know the basic withhold water in winter and ramp up watering as new growth appears in spring. However, last year it bloomed for me and I didn't intentionally restrict water, but it was at my brother's garden center and they tend to ignore all orchids, so that could explain it. Anyway, I tried to restrict water in winter, but didn't stop watering it all together. Anyway, it did not bloom this year, and I missed it! It also has a nice fragrance making it one of my few fragrant orchids with a smell like cinnamon

So yummy! Anyway, does anyone have any tips? It only has one new growth also, which is not growing up very quickly and I repotted it last night and roots look pretty pathetic...no nubbins, none really looking very new at all. What medium is best? Help...I don't have any others like this so I have no idea what to change to make her happy!

JennS · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 02:57 PM

If you don't know this particular ctsm. can you tell me basic care instructions for them in general? I didn't see any sticky's about it... Thanks!

isurus79 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 07:58 PM

I dont have any Clowesia (the new Genus name for this plant and its parents), so I can not give you exact tips. I think, however, that you can grow these guys just like any other Catasetinae. Here is the link that Fred Clarke has regarding the way he cares for his plants: Sunset Valley Orchids - Grower and hybridizer of quality orchids, Vista CA This method is pretty much the gospel for Catasetinae care. Enjoy!

cb977 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 08:09 PM

Hi

I have this plant. Got it as a seedling three years ago and it bloomed for the first time a few months back.
I have it in a small pot with aliflor (LECA), keep it pretty moist and in rather high light. It gets a "rest" from Halloween to Valentine's Day

During that period, it only gets a light misting once every ten days or so, no fertilizer at all.

Ctsm Rebecca Northen 'Pink Fragrance'

By the way, the name is Northen, without the second "r". I had a hard time finding information on it till I realized I was adding a letter

isurus79 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 08:45 PM

Sue,
I didnt know that about Rebecca Northen! I always thought it was Northern. In fact, I even checked my "Home Orchid Growing" which I have had for many years!! Thanks for the correction. Ive messed up poor miss Northen's name for soooo long.

Sorry!

cb977 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isurus79

Sue,
I didnt know that about Rebecca Northen! I always thought it was Northern. In fact, I even checked my "Home Orchid Growing" which I have had for many years!! Thanks for the correction. Ive messed up poor miss Northen's name for soooo long.

Sorry!

I think many of us have done it, Steve

Unfortunately, Google doesn't try to correct you when you type in Northern...it just doesn't find her

JennS · #7 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb977

Hi

I have this plant. Got it as a seedling three years ago and it bloomed for the first time a few months back.
I have it in a small pot with aliflor (LECA), keep it pretty moist and in rather high light. It gets a "rest" from Halloween to Valentine's Day

During that period, it only gets a light misting once every ten days or so, no fertilizer at all.

Ctsm Rebecca Northen 'Pink Fragrance'

By the way, the name is Northen, without the second "r". I had a hard time finding information on it till I realized I was adding a letter

I had no idea about the name. Thank you for the correction. I couldn't find anything on it either!

When you say the plant gets a rest and only misting every 10 days or so, does that mean you don't give it a full watering at all during that period? If so, that would explain why it didn't bloom this year. I still watered it some just less frequently. Do they like to dry out all the way in between during growing season? I guess I should check the link...

Thanks for all of your help everyone!

cb977 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 09:46 AM

Hi Jenn

No actual watering during that time frame. The Halloween-Valentine's guidelines are approximate. For us, late October is good to start holding back the water/food. As for when to start again, I start looking for any signs of growth and buds in mid-Feb/early March. That's when I start it back on it's water/fertilizer schedule.

elermore · #9 (**permalink**) 08-16-2008, 01:49 AM

Hi I'm new at this,can you tell me that when Rebecca Northern or Grace Dunne loses their leaves or any of the pendulous ctsms and they have spikes do you keep watering. Thanks Elermore

nancy · #10 (**permalink**) 08-16-2008, 07:40 PM

Hi Jenn -
A beautiful and desirable plant (okay, they all are desirable), Clowesia Rebecca Northen is a cross of Grace Dunn x rosea; Grace Dunn is rosea x warscewiczii. If you look them up, one is more beautiful than the last.
Watering these during the winter, at all, is a big mistake, IMO. That is why you don't have roots and your plant didn't bloom. I set aside a corner for my catasetinae and deciduous dendrobiums and don't water them at all, at all. Our humidity is high, so they are just fine.
Clowesia was separated from Catasetum because they have 'perfect' flowers, i.e., both male and female parts in the same flower, whereas Catasetums have either male or female flowers, or sometimes hermaphroditic flowers (I don't even want to think about this!). IMO again, the flowers are all perfect.
They all like similar culture, dry rest when deciduous.
It isn't easy!
Regards - Nancy