Catasetum planiceps

[Lars Kurth]

Not as vigorous as last year: maybe repotted it too late. Anyway, this is probably my least favourite Catasetum. I bought it under a different label and it turned out to be planiceps

[kavanaru]

Hi Lars, that's a nice planiceps... how do you like the fragrance in this one?

some advice, do not repot the plant every year as suggested in many website. Once it looses the leave, just let it dry in the same pot until it start growing again (ensure to wash out once or twice with plain water to eliminate salts!)
Other way, is to grow it in S/H (I do let them have a rest, but friends grow Catasetum without rest and the are in constant growth)

[Lars Kurth]

Thanks for the tip: I usually repot every 2-3 years, and that plant definitely needed repotting. Because of the long and sunless winter all my Catasinae started real late.

The scent is a mixture of lemon and cut grass (but then I have never been able to define scents very well and may be totally off),

What does S/H stand for?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Lars Kurth

Some orchids are not stunning to the eyes, but can really be a feast for the nose!

What does S/H stand for?

Semi Hydroponic. Check out the S/H forum on this board: Semi-Hydroponic Culture - Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web ! Ramon (Kavanaru) grows some really stunning Catasetinae using this method. I would do it too, but I grow all mine outside where the wind would tear the plant out of the pot.

[kavanaru]

Thanks for jumping in Steve

not only, but that's teh way many many people in south america grow these plants (since quite a long time already). Casually, it seems that europeans are kind of discovering this now too... in teh last few months I have seen more and more hints in european websites to grow these plants "sitting on water trades". Even the main orchids magazine from Germany (Die Orchidee) published an artikel about growing Ctsm. pileatum this way (against all recommendation every body has always heard about not letting the plants to sit in water for a long period).

Lars, re-potting every 2-3 years is ok. However, I (and some friends in South America) have found that many Catasetinae actually like staying in the same pot even longer (they like descomposing wood!) - however, I must admit you would need to supervise closely in case any troubbles start....

[Lars Kurth]

Will look into when repotting is due

[Bruno De Toni]

I have also two planiceps and I agree with Lars, the only good thing of this specie is the fragance. Also they grow quite large and I had to take them out of my green house to give more space to others more attractive catasetinaes.