Help with new growth/roots

[littleflower]

I have several catasetums, but I am fairly new to the species. As soon as I saw some new growth, I repotted. Everything seemed to be fine but now some of the tips of the new growth are turning brown, and the roots have spots on them. I posted in another board and someone mentioned spider mites (didn’t really see any signs but I sprayed them with miticide anyway). However, seems like the problem is not getting better. The other thought is humidity, my humidity runs anywhere from 40 to 60%, trying to increase it but not easy in my basement. Thoughts?

[SouthPark]

Could maybe monitor the temperature - and maybe add a humidifier (and a fan in the room to circulate air around in the basement).

[littleflower]

Thank you! I do have a fan that’s on 24/7, will keep an eye on the temperature

[Roberta]

A possible problem was your timing. The time to repot Catasetinae is during dormancy - by the time that you see growth, the plant is also producing new roots that are easily damaged. If you have started watering, STOP... those new roots are nowhere near long enough yet. Those little roots actually look fine - that's the color of new root tips. Basically, you want to ignore it until new roots are 3-4 inches long. It is much better to wait longer than necessary than to start watering too soon. There are some recent threads on this forum with links to "when to water" information - notes from Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids, videos from Carlos of SVO and also from isurus79. Thread is "Sunset Valley Orchids Spring Culture Notes" But put your hands in your pockets when you're walking by your Catasetinae so that you can't reach for the watering can.

This group of orchids has very different cultural needs than all of the others... All of the mentioned culture notes will help you to meet those needs.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by littleflower

Thoughts?

Littleflower ------ I forgot to mention. This plant is coming out of dormancy, right? If it is, then also mention what the orchid has been receiving in terms of temperature and also watering. At the moment - just assuming no water has been applied. The forum members may get some ideas about what could be done to improve the situation - with the leaf tip browning etc - if they know more about what the growing conditions are over there.

[littleflower]

Thank you Roberta! I have not watered at all, and most of what I read says that as soon as you start to see new growth, it’s time to re-pot. I repotted all of them when there was just a tiny nub of growth and no new roots. But my concern is that the new boot tips look black on the end, do you think that’s OK? Thanks again for your response

---------- Post added at 08:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:46 PM ----------

South Park, no water.... during dormancy, temperatures were upper 60s to low 70s. again, humidity is an issue for me. I did have them under some grow lights, but I had emailed Fred Clark and he said that was fine

---------- Post added at 08:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 PM ----------

SouthPark, I meant to post but I think I ended up sending you a message😊. Anyway, during dormancy, no water, temperatures in the 60s to low 70s, humidity is always an issue. I do have some under grow lights but I emailed Fred Clark, he said that was fine

[SouthPark]

Littleflower - thanks for adding that extra post. Once the humidity is increased a bit ------ then I think this one will be good to go. The new roots coming out look great.

[Roberta]

I think roots will be fine... if there is an issue with the ones that you see, the plant will produce yet more, this is the time when it pushes new roots readily.

As far as repotting... it is generally the case that the ideal time to pot is the start of new growth, or actually, start of new roots. (Actually, other orchids can be ideally potted in anticipation of new roots... but unlike the Catasetinae, you don't necessarily know when that's going to happen so you wait until you see them start) Like everything else about them that's a little different, Catasetinae really should be potted earlier (since you know that new roots will be coming along soon) They may start producing roots down in the medium even before you see them, so you want to get ahead of that growth.

Actually, for other orchids there is a way to keep track of the start of new roots for potting purposes. In his talks about Cattleyas, for instance, Fred Clarke suggests that when you pot (when you see new roots), put a date on the tag not the date of repotting, but a date a month or so BEFORE. So the next time you want to repot, you can refer to that date, and get the job done in anticipation of new roots, which is even better than waiting until you seen them when some of those first roots can be damaged.

[isurus79]

The spots aren't a big deal and a few root tips dying back shouldn't be a problem either. I don't see anything all that bad in those photos. Can you post a photo of the whole plant with leaves on the new growth?