repotting Catasetum, please help!

[chemist]

So over the weekend I bought Catasetum Tenebrosum.
From conversation with seller i understood this plant was repotted recently, how recently i don't know, but it has new roots about 2 inches long bound to the media, so maybe month -two ago?
It was potted (today i removed it from media) in sponge rock (I'm not sure about name for this material, please see photo).
So I noticed that older roots not drying at all (close to surface) even though last watering was on Saturday. So i decided to take a look at the roots despite that plant is in spike.
Here are pictures:


To me those older roots from old PBs looks rotten. Does it make sense to repot it with old roots (like seller did or maybe they become rotten after repotting) or better remove it?
It came in 3" round pot. But if i remove old rotten roots the pot will be too big for root mass in my opinion. So, do I have to pot it in smaller pot?
Also do I need to change media to bark (i gained control over bark) or pot it in the media it came with? I also have LECA if its better for Catasetums.

Thank you in advance for advise!

[ksriramkumar]

Good Buy. They like to be under potted and I grow mine in charcoal only and they seem to be doing alright.

[chemist]

Thank you Ksriram!
Under potted you mean to the size of the Pbs or also roots?
I could not wait and clean old rotten roots...



Is the pot it came in right size for the remaining roots?

How often do you water yours?

[ksriramkumar]

I was referring to the pot size. In my opinion, the pot size is on the bigger size. you could possibly go two sizes below. I have only a few catasetum, may be will wait for other experts to chip in

[chingjervis]

Good buy indeed! We cant wait to see its bloom. Pls do post. Thanks

[catasetum-ian]

HI Svetlana,
nice haul and nice hair cut over the root trimming, that is exactly what i would do as well.
in fact i am always a little more adventurous, i would remove the two oldest pb, leaving the new growth with one old PB. that way i would have automatically removed most of the dead/mushy roots and also i got an extra plant now. =D

i do agree with ksriramkumar that catasetum do perform better when underpot, but tenebrosum is a robust grower. the pot that you showed in the second post, would be fine as well. would be waiting for your post in about 6 weeks time.

those white little "sponge rock", is it perlite?

[chemist]

Hi Ian!
Thank you for your input!
White media is probably perlite. Its confusing over the web some people call it sponge rock some perlite.
It looks like perlite, at least its porous, but not exactly the same as you could find perlite in orchid mixes that they sell in stores. I can post close up picrure of it.

I hesitate to divide it right now - to scared to do something wrong . Maybe next year.
So what you saying is an old PB should give new grows? Than why it did not give any this time?

I think I'll pot it in smaller clear plastic pot so i can see root development.
How do you grow yours (media/pots)? Do you think its better put it in bark? If i leave it in perlite how often should i water it taking in account average home set up?

[catasetum-ian]

Hi Ian!
Thank you for your input!
White media is probably perlite. Its confusing over the web some people call it sponge rock some perlite.
It looks like perlite, at least its porous, but not exactly the same as you could find perlite in orchid mixes that they sell in stores. I can post close up picrure of it.


I hesitate to divide it right now - to scared to do something wrong . Maybe next year.
So what you saying is an old PB should give new grows? Than why it did not give any this time?


I think I'll pot it in smaller clear plastic pot so i can see root development.
How do you grow yours (media/pots)? Do you think its better put it in bark? If i leave it in perlite how often should i water it taking in account average home set up?

IT'S OK, NEED NOT TROUBLE YOURSELF FOR THE CLOSE UP.

THEY ARE ONLY STIMULATED TO GIVE NEW GROWTH ONCE DIVIDED. USUALLY CATASETUMS GROW IN ONE DIRECTION AND OCCASIONALLY ONE NEW GROWTH GIVING OUT TWO NEW GROWTH SIMULTANEOUSLY.
ONCE A WHILE, AN OLD PSEUDOBULB WILL SET ANOTHER NEW GROWTH GROWING THE OTHER DIRECTION BUT NOT COMMONLY SEEN IN ARTIFICIAL CULTIVATION SETTING.

I GROW MINE IN PURE CHARCOAL, SOMETIMES SOME BROKEN BRICKS. FOR BIG POTTED PLANT, ADDED SOME STYROFOAM NUGGETS UNDERNEATH. I WATER MINE TWICE DAILY, FOR PLANTS WITH MATURED BULBS NEAR DORMANCY ONCE DAILY AND DORMANT PLANTS, MINIMAL TO NO WATERING.
WATERING SCHEDULE AND TYPE OF MEDIA MAY DIFFER FROM ONE CULTIVATION SETTING TO ANOTHER DUE TO DIFFERENT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY AND SUNLIGHT EXPOSURE. (i did scribble some simple notes for my cultivation methods in my blog)
FIR BARK IS A GOOD MEDIA, BUT PERHAPS SHOULD ADD WITH SOME CHARCOAL. I GUESS THE SMALL AMOUNT OF PERLITE THERE WOULD NOT INFLUENCE YOUR WATERING REGIME.


GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED

[chemist]

Here is how spike looks now


And it grows new roots.

Well, when i was buying display plant has yellow flowers (plain yellow) this one definitely will have other. color )

Ian, im PM you said this type is redish with yellow lip. Do you still think lip will be yellow? Is yellow hiding inside the bud?!

[catasetum-ian]

Here is how spike looks now


And it grows new roots.

Well, when i was buying display plant has yellow flowers (plain yellow) this one definitely will have other. color )

Ian, im PM you said this type is redish with yellow lip. Do you still think lip will be yellow? Is yellow hiding inside the bud?!

well, still could be a tenebrosum, because the yellow color is only on the inner side of the lip. and externally, before they open, the bud do looks dark maroon color/brown