Fredclarkeara after dark dormancy and growth issues

[Leareu]

Hi everyone,

I purchased this fdk back around March and I'm confused on what to do with it.

Now it's halfway through winter down here and I was just wondering what to do. It hasn't gone into dormancy even though I've stopped all watering and fertilizing so should I just leave it as is?

The second issue I have is that I decided to repot it from the sphagnum it was in into Kiwi bark and found that quite a bit of it was growing beneath the media. So my question is does it look fine? because the part of the growth above the media looks okay but the bits beneath look a bit skinny.

Thanks for the help

[SouthPark]

For this one - if it keeps growing, then just keep providing it warm conditions ----- it will eventually lose its leaves ---- eventually.

As long as the roots don't remain relatively cold plus wet all the time, and as long as the orchid looks like it isn't going into dormancy ------ then just keep looking after it as usual.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Leareu

Hi everyone,

I purchased this fdk back around March and I'm confused on what to do with it.

Now it's halfway through winter down here and I was just wondering what to do. It hasn't gone into dormancy even though I've stopped all watering and fertilizing so should I just leave it as is?

The second issue I have is that I decided to repot it from the sphagnum it was in into Kiwi bark and found that quite a bit of it was growing beneath the media. So my question is does it look fine? because the part of the growth above the media looks okay but the bits beneath look a bit skinny.

Thanks for the help

I agree, just keep on doing what you are doing with regard to water (none). It may or may not lose all its leaves, but just ignore it until the new growth is well on its way (like 8-10 cm!) As for medium, how big is it? When these are in rapid growth, they need to be quite wet - so a small plant (2 or 3 pseudobulbs) will be easier to keep that way in sphagnum. I go for bark (small) only on the larger plants where it would take too much sphagnum. And don't worry about roots... Last year's roots are still functional, any older than that are dead. It is the new roots with the new growth that will really sustain the plant. Catasetinae basically re-invent themselves every year.

[Leareu]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

For this one - if it keeps growing, then just keep providing it warm conditions ----- it will eventually lose its leaves ---- eventually.

As long as the roots don't remain relatively cold plus wet all the time, and as long as the orchid looks like it isn't going into dormancy ------ then just keep looking after it as usual.

Hi!

That's the thing! I haven't noticed any growth for the last few weeks. Some bottom leaves dropped a while back so I initially thought it was going into dormancy but it hasn't done anything since sadly. The sheath bits are also starting to split!

Originally Posted by Roberta

I agree, just keep on doing what you are doing with regard to water (none). It may or may not lose all its leaves, but just ignore it until the new growth is well on its way (like 8-10 cm!) As for medium, how big is it? When these are in rapid growth, they need to be quite wet - so a small plant (2 or 3 pseudobulbs) will be easier to keep that way in sphagnum. I go for bark (small) only on the larger plants where it would take too much sphagnum. And don't worry about roots... Last year's roots are still functional, any older than that are dead. It is the new roots with the new growth that will really sustain the plant. Catasetinae basically re-invent themselves every year.

I see, that's great to hear then!

The medium I used was the 3 to 8mm Bio Leaf Premium Orchid Potting Mix from the same people who make Kiwi Bark.

I guess I'll repot it once the new growth kicks in with some sphagnum and perlite! Is it possible for new growths to kick in from the older pseuldobulb?

Thanks!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Leareu

Hi!


I see, that's great to hear then!

The medium I used was the 3 to 8mm Bio Leaf Premium Orchid Potting Mix from the same people who make Kiwi Bark.

I guess I'll repot it once the new growth kicks in with some sphagnum and perlite! Is it possible for new growths to kick in from the older pseuldobulb?

Thanks!

The time to repot, actually, is now or fairly soon - you want to get it done BEFORE the new growth and new roots. And the plant will grow roots before growth, so you want it in its new home before that. New growth will come from the base of the old pseudobulbs. (Occasionally you can also get growths on the side of a pseudobulb, but the main ones are from the base) It's too soon yet to think about it... You are still in winter. In a month or two you'll start to see the new growth. Don't start watering, though, until those new growths (and new roots) get to that 8-10 cm range. It is really tempting to water as soon as you see it... don't. Put your hands in your pockets so that you can't reach for the watering can. There are lots of notes within this Catasetum sub-forum on the subject. (Most of the notes are from people in the northern hemisphere, so add or subtract 6 months accordingly... it's the seasons that govern the process)

It does look, from your photo, like you got a somewhat out-of-season growth. If your weather is warm you could give it a little bit of water around the edges of the pot, especially if you see any sign of shriveling of pseudobulbs. But not much... it's still early.

You actually could dispense with the repot... once you get active growth, you could just sit the pot in a dish with some water in it. The whole concept is, when in active growth it needs lots of water and fertilizer (I use some time-release fertilizer in the pot for an extra boost) There is certainly more than one way to accomplish that.

[Leareu]

Originally Posted by Roberta

-snip-

Okay! Yeah I got it in the middle of autumn here, I'll keep my hands to myself and try not to water, It'll be a challenge of self-control! I'll be sure to have a look through the subforum!

I think I might just repot it into sphagnum hehe, better to be on the safe side

Thank you so much for the help!

[Leareu]

Hi Roberta, just wanted to check up on one of my seedling catasetums, it doesn't seem to be fairing well. A black spot has appeared on it and some bits of the pseudobulb is turning orange/brown. Water might have fallen into it when I was watering my other plants but besides that I have no idea why this is happening.Would you happen to have any advice? I haven't watered it at all even though it's past mid spring here. Should I just start watering it? Thanks!

[Roberta]

I wouldn't worry about the old pseudobulb, you do have a new growth starting. But actually the one whose advice is better than mine is isurus79 ... I grow these, but he grows a lot more of them and has seen more "variations on the growth theme" than I have. You might want to PM him.

[Leareu]

Okay, thank you!

[isurus79]

I wouldn't worry about the black spot. You might want to drench that one before the new roots come out of the new growth. Soak it once and then leave it be until the new roots are 3-4 inches long.