Dormant Flowering Catasetinae Care

[Dorchid]

I’ve been curious about this but figured I’d cross the bridge when I eventually arrived at it and that time is now. From what I’ve seen in pictures, it appears that Mormodes and their hybrids tend to flower when the plants are starting dormancy and have shed their leaves. True to form, I have 2 plants which are doing exactly that. The first is a nice division of Mo. Painted Desert X Ctsm. John C. Burchett, throwing 2 spikes. Both parents are a nice dark burgundy and I’m pumped for their flowers! The second, and very surprising to me is one of the new hybrid seedlings I picked up from SVO over the summer. Morm. Virgin del Valle Dark Horse SVO X Morm. Hookeri Fuzz which are both very dark burgundy forms as well. Again, super excited and blown away that this is throwing a spike! So, what’s the best approach as far as watering goes? These plants are no longer being watered to help push dormancy (the seedling actually gets a sip now and then as it tends to soften up). Would a weekly sip with dilute fertilizer be advised?


Parents:

[Dorchid]

Parents:

[Roberta]

Nice! I think the occasional sip is fine. Skip the fertilizer.

[SouthPark]

In my tropical conditions - I added light amounts of water to all of my catasetum type orchids not only during dormancy this season, but also during new root growth.

Losses and setbacks : zero

That included a Mo. Painted Desert

And one of my Fdk. After Dark started to develop a flower spike toward end of spring (just before reaching summer).

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Nice! I think the occasional sip is fine. Skip the fertilizer.

[Dorchid]

Thanks all; This is the approach I will take!