Clowesia Rebecca Northen spikes

[cakedaddy]

I am so happy AND angry at myself! I have two spikes with lots of little buds! BUT, it should have been four. I rotted two of them. Still I get the two and a lesson was learned...don't mist the spikes direcly. Mist AROUND them.




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[Naoki]

Congratulations. Keep us posted as they bloom. I heard they are very very fragrant. I used to have one of them, but it did not even last for one season.

[zainal abidin]

Congratulations looking forward for this beauties.

[cakedaddy]

I will certainly be posting pics when they open! I'm super excited about this one...
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[opaline]

Catasetinae do have some very expensive and rather annoying learning curves with their culture. Extremely vulnerable/ susceptible to rot and not in general terms with risks of crown/ root rot with orchids. These are in a league of their own and im closer to the conclusion that this genera requires specialist growing and attention. I do not allow them to be within an inch or two of organic media. This is why i mount or pot in synthetic aquarium filter sponge or stryofoam.

[cakedaddy]

Catasetinae do have some very expensive and rather annoying learning curves with their culture. Extremely vulnerable/ susceptible to rot and not in general terms with risks of crown/ root rot with orchids. These are in a league of their own and im closer to the conclusion that this genera requires specialist growing and attention. I do not allow them to be within an inch or two of organic media. This is why i mount or pot in synthetic aquarium filter sponge or stryofoam.

This is my first of the catasetinae. Personally, aside from a few quirks, growing seems foolproof...the signals are blaringly obvious as to whether I should water and feed or generally ignore it. I was just surprised that the little direct misting those two spikes received rotted them. I was almost certain that it was required considering I have a fan blowing constantly and they are sitting in a south facing window that is unobstructed sans a bit of dust.
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[catasetum-ian]

Catasetinae do have some very expensive and rather annoying learning curves with their culture. Extremely vulnerable/ susceptible to rot and not in general terms with risks of crown/ root rot with orchids. These are in a league of their own and im closer to the conclusion that this genera requires specialist growing and attention. I do not allow them to be within an inch or two of organic media. This is why i mount or pot in synthetic aquarium filter sponge or stryofoam.

101% agreed to what you said. except i had been laying a few strands of sphag moss in the media (basically can count them by numbers) coz i notice my media is bone dry during non rainy days by the time i came back in the evening. nothing organic other than that, not even organic fertilizer.
However i do envy those who can keep their catasetinae in sphag moss, much lesser work with watering and they do get good results as well. just maybe the weather here in Malaysia is not suitable for catasetinae in sphag! i just had a friend where he got his cynoches, 4 big bulbs in bloom and less than a month, came down with bulb rot and guess what, it is in 100% sphag!!

and Jason,
seems like there is heavy load of spahg in your medium. are they in 100% sphag as well?

[cakedaddy]

101% agreed to what you said. except i had been laying a few strands of sphag moss in the media (basically can count them by numbers) coz i notice my media is bone dry during non rainy days by the time i came back in the evening. nothing organic other than that, not even organic fertilizer.
However i do envy those who can keep their catasetinae in sphag moss, much lesser work with watering and they do get good results as well. just maybe the weather here in Malaysia is not suitable for catasetinae in sphag! i just had a friend where he got his cynoches, 4 big bulbs in bloom and less than a month, came down with bulb rot and guess what, it is in 100% sphag!!

and Jason,
seems like there is heavy load of spahg in your medium. are they in 100% sphag as well?

It's not all sphag. The lower quarter of the pot is charcoal. Above that is hydroton. Then a mix of bark and sphag topped with more sphag. I hated sphag until I moved here. It's the only media readily available that holds enough moisture for me to leave the house! I rarely use straight sphag...I do like to have enough airiness that I can water whenever I want. I love to water. We only get rain here during winter and early spring btw...summers are warm and bone dry.
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[opaline]

[QUOTE=catasetum-ian;280734] i do envy those who can keep their catasetinae in sphag moss, much lesser work with watering and they do get good results as well. just maybe the weather here in Malaysia is not suitable for catasetinae in sphag! i just had a friend where he got his cynoches, 4 big bulbs in bloom and less than a month, came down with bulb rot and guess what, it is in 100% sphag!!QUOTE]

I envy anyone that can grow any orchid in sphag moss. It must be an excellent advantage and brilliant tool for orchid cultivation. No orchid at all, even those with high moisture requirements would survive a month in my grow situ. Assessing and weighing up your care approach and factors incorporated in your grow situ is a priceless mandatory exercise. The cost of wastage must be phenomenal by the time anyone reaches this milestone.

[catasetum-ian]

It must be an excellent advantage and brilliant tool for orchid cultivation.

as much as i hate the moss for my catasetinae, i must admit they have their advantages like what you mentioned. when used to grow very exhausted bulb that send out new growth, moss gives the best results so far. controlled watering or even exposure to rain water and regular fungicide is crucial.