Repot clowesia?

[cakedaddy]

Hi everyone! I got this clowesia in the spring and repotted it for my conditions. Now I have a bit of a problem with it. The new pb grew so much larger and heavier than the previous ones that it wobbles about and seems like it may break off. It is already beginning to become dormant as the leaves are almost totally yellowed and about to drop. I am tempted to repot anyway and have read conflicting info regarding the repotting of catasetinae during dormancy. Any of you growers have any input?
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[opaline]

I have this issue arise with catasetinae actually with a cycnoche at mo to be specific. All I can reccommend is supporting/ staking the new PB and allow time for flower to arrive, display and leave and treat as normal during dormancy. The yellow leaf and drop indicates to me to reduce watering and adhere to guidelines regardless and if need be treat as an isolated case. The fact that its a large PB is a bonus and would definetly not risk the rot creeping in. After dormancy the new growths will aid in anchoring itself more securely. Suprisingly it can be as little as 24 hours for rot to accept an invite and begin making your life a misery. Begin procedures as normal for dormancy but keep well lit asit may throw out a spike at anytime. my opinion anyway!

[Lars.Kurth]

I fully agree, stake the bulb. If you repot now, you risk not getting flowers and fungal disease. In fact it is a very good idea to stake plants when you repot them generally. That makes it more likely that new bulbs get better establishedand less wobbly.

[cakedaddy]

Thanks to you both for the advice! I have been so excited by the prospect of a great bloom on this ever since I noticed how huge the pb was becoming! Didnt want to risk losing out on that! I will give it one last watering from the bottom and leave it be. Maybe put it in my sunny window away from the misting it gets when around the others.
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[opaline]

Your welcome Jason. Ever since I made the very expensive mistake of unknowingly allowing rot (roots and PB) on a cycnoche loddigesii and the annoyance anger and disappointment that went with it, I have never sidetracked from the rules of care with these orchids except in special circumstances of isolated care.

If root rot isnt bad enough we have to contend with PB rot and crown rot with these. Furthermore here in uk with the seasons and unsettled weather and unreliable sunshine their dormancy times and grwth times fall in differing time zones.

As you said, you never want to risk losing out on these plants flowering.

[cakedaddy]

I haven't been too worried about root rot with mine even though it is potted in mostly sphagnum...this Clowesia is my first of the catasetinae and I have been under the impression that I should expect the current roots to die off during dormancy anyway. I was going to pot it into dryish media and leave it alone other than a spritz every now and again. I have found the beginnings of rot on a PB when it was hot out and I was watering constantly....it's certainly one of my more "special" plants and I was horrified.

[Lars.Kurth]

You may want to read
http://www.aos.org/AM/Images/pdf/Beg...ries-Ctsm6.pdf and http://www.aos.org/AM/Images/pdf/Beg...ries-Ctsm7.pdf

[cakedaddy]

Thanks so much for the links Lars! Certainly an interesting and helpful read!
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[cakedaddy]

So, this little sucker has lost it's leaves and is, despite my holding back the water, putting out new growth! I don't understand the poor thing. Maybe not cool enough? Either way, I hate to be mean to the little guy, but the reason I wanted it was because it bloomed without foliage...hope he's just confused by something I did.
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[Brutal_Dreamer]

So, this little sucker has lost it's leaves and is, despite my holding back the water, putting out new growth! I don't understand the poor thing. Maybe not cool enough? Either way, I hate to be mean to the little guy, but the reason I wanted it was because it bloomed without foliage...hope he's just confused by something I did.
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Is it doing any better now?

cheers,
BD