Can i repot my newly acquired Catasetums?

[jayviado12]

I just bought 3 catasetums from Fred Clarke. Can i repot this now? Im planning just to buy 1 but he gave me a very nice deal. 3 blooming size Catasetum for $60 shipped so here they are

[JDT]

Looks like they are very healthy Catasetums and at a great price. From the look of your new growth I would suggest not re-potting until after they bloom for you, some, like me, take my Castasetums and Cycnoches and remove them from the pot and remove all the media after they have bloomed and gone into their winter rest some don't. Once I see at least 2 inches of new growth in the spring I will repot them at that time. This past winter when I took them out of their media some of the bulbs I separated and some I did not, what I found is the ones I separated gave me new growth on both bulbs the ones I did not separate only gave me new growth on the bulb that had just bloomed, this of course does not always happen as the older bulb will only put out new growth for a year or two.

[jayviado12]

Originally Posted by JDT

Looks like they are very healthy Catasetums and at a great price. From the look of your new growth I would suggest not re-potting until after they bloom for you, some, like me, take my Castasetums and Cycnoches and remove them from the pot and remove all the media after they have bloomed and gone into their winter rest some don't. Once I see at least 2 inches of new growth in the spring I will repot them at that time. This past winter when I took them out of their media some of the bulbs I separated and some I did not, what I found is the ones I separated gave me new growth on both bulbs the ones I did not separate only gave me new growth on the bulb that had just bloomed, this of course does not always happen as the older bulb will only put out new growth for a year or two.

thanks, what will you suggest for watering and fertilizing?

[JDT]

That depends on several things, what media do you have and where do you live. I live in south Florida and it has been in the 80's and 90's since April, I use a media that will hold some moisture as these like water and I water them about every 2 days. I fertilize every week during the growing season. Come late fall I stop watering, except I might spray the pseudo-bulb every couple of weeks, and fertilizing.

[jayviado12]

i live in LA which is not that hot. its a mix of 70% bark and 30% moss. i have a 10-10-10 fertilizer and 30-10-10 ones

[JDT]

What kind of moss, Sphagnum? If it is Sphagnum then that holds moisture, they don't like to dry out so with your weather you need to decide how often do they need to be watered. The next time you need to water, pick the pot up before you water and feel the weight, then soak the plant for awhile or water the pot, wait for that water to drain out then water again, do that 2-3 times. Once you are done pick the pot up and check the weight, after that before you water check the weight of the pot that will give you a good sign, is it ok or does it need to be watered. As to fertilizer I can not really tell you what is best, other then the time released (13-13-13) that all my potted and mounted plants get each spring any other fertilizer I use is organic.

You should read the following; Catasetum series on AOS it will give you lots of information that will also help.

[jayviado12]

thanks, ill be updating you guys. here is the 2 baby and 3 mature Catasetum. update will he next month. thanks for the help!