sparkysteve (of Boca Raton, Florida)
Jade from Grand Rapids
Fleur (Tasmania)
JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
marylois (NW Louisiana)
MiamiBert
55SS (James in San Jose)
Ellen,Smithtown,New York
soobie me (Sue in NC)
BTague (Barbara, N. CA)
Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
Carol Holdren (Boca Raton)
jim4eq (Miami)
Equitantman (Matt from Ventura, CA and the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate)
doneng (Don from Boca Raton)
UncleEarl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
Lanceps (Thamina from Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
Evlyn
JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Lois- I called about that bellatulum alba that isn't. I wanted to keep the venustum album so I bought another one and they are sending me a henryamun as a gift. Andy knew what happened and was most apologetic about it.
jemorchids (Gene from JEM)
Jade, this is my first chat, give me some pointers!
MiamiBert
Miami Show Program Includes presentation by Gene March 7, 1PM
Ellen,Smithtown,New York
Gene, my Cycnodes Wine Delight is in bloom.
marylois ((northwest Louisiana))
Welcome, Gene!!!! Folks, our speaker is in the room.
Ellen,Smithtown,New York
Gene will you speak a little on Cycnodes culture?
MiamiBert
Gene, how do you keep Mormodes from shriveling when dormant?
jemorchids (Gene from JEM)
Cycnoches can be tricky this time of year. If your climate is cool or cold
they need to be dried out. They are very susceptible to rot from the roots
up since the roots stop taking up water when they go dormant.
MiamiBert
And you prevent rot how?
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
What do you classify as 'cool'?
Ellen,Smithtown,New York
Is it the same culture for unbloomed seedlings? When do you start dormancy?
55SS (James in Fresno)
Totally dry? just to the point of shriveling?
jemorchids
Catasetinae go dormant at temperatures of about 52 degrees F or lower. Resting
is accomplished by reducing water during these cool periods. If your climate
has a typical winter (stays below 52 for several months) it is best to only
mist the plants occasionally rather than actually watering them. Mormodes
are the trickiest, and don't take well to being kept completely dry or kept
too wet. Its mostly trial and error determining how much water they need
in your climate.
marylois (Topic: An evening with Gene Monnier, JEM Orchids, Delray Beach
FL)
Gene, I seem to recall a talk several years ago where you suggested (in
the damp, coldish SW weather), taking ctsm, cyc and the like out of pots,
dumping mix and putting back in pot for winter - allowing slight non-fertilizer
misting from time to time in winter... Am I remembering correctly?
Ellen,Smithtown,New York
Gene I am still removing from the pot and leave in a clay pot unpotted till
I see the new growth. Is that correct?
jemorchids
Yes, Lois, with adult plant, bare rooting plants can be a good approach.
Seedling are best kept warm if possible and grown on if leaves can be kept
on the plants, otherwise, leave them in there pots and mist them to avoid
dehydration.
marylois
I left 'em in pot for first time this year - we'll see! *G* Did put them
aside where they get much less watering.
MiamiBert
For what it's worth, I leave Catasetums in old pot when dormant, and then
clean up and repot when 'eye' shows in spring
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
Would this imply that in a greenhouse where the minimum temp is kept at
55 they might not go dormant?
Fleur (Tasmania)
Gene, I know nothing about JEM Orchids, what do you grow mainly?
jemorchids
Fleur, we grow a very wide selection of orchids, but are known for having
'odd ball stuff'. Our catalog
is online.
BTague (Barbara, N. CA)
Gene, all my Cycnoches and Catasetum are sending new growth, does that
mean I should start water and fert. too?
jemorchids
Barbara, you can start light watering once new growth appears, but hold
off on regular watering and fertilizing until growth is about an inch up
and new roots are evident.
Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
I have a catasetum that wouldn't do anything--no new growths or bloom for
well over a yr so I threw it in the 'frig for 2 wks --then put it up high
in greenhouse without watering it and now 2 growths are appearing.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Jane - that was a brave thing to do, LOL!
Jade from G R
Jane: rather like saying spike in 6 months or out.
jemorchids
Chilling a completely dormant bulb that is unresponsive may be a very good
idea. I haven't tried it, but will on some of my more stubborn backbulbs.
BTague (Barbara, N. CA)
Thanks Gene, now tell me about Clowesia. Please.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
I know nothing about that one, Barbara.
doneng (Don from Boca Raton)
What species is the clowesia?
BTague (Barbara, N. CA)
Clowesia is a natural genus.
MiamiBert
Some Clowesias, like Grace Dunn and parents, bloom when dormant.
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
We have russelliana and dodsonii.
jemorchids
Some Clowesias winter bloomers, so resting is a little different. C. warscewiczii,
C. rosea, and their progeny need light watering through their blooming period.
The others can be treated just like Catasetum.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Which genus is egertoniamum in now?
doneng (Don from Boca Raton)
Clowesias were formerly catasetums. Gene was writing a book on the family
at one time.
Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
Joyce Stewart in 'Manual of Orchids' says cultivate same as catasetums.
BTague (Barbara, N. CA)
Bert, this Clowesia russelliana I bought, its bulbs are huge, I don't think
it ever went dormant. Leaves are still green.
MiamiBert
Maybe its not cold enough in CA, Come to FL, weather perfect for Catasetinae.
BTague (Barbara, N. CA)
Yes, is Clowesia russelliana winter bloomer?
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
There don't seem to be many paph growers in FL. Are they more of a problem
to grow in the climate down there?
Equitantman (Matt from Ventura, CA and the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate)
Gene, Please tell us what your website does for your business.
MiamiBert
Barbara, russelliana seems to bloom in spring-summer
doneng (Don from Boca Raton)
Gene, did you ever finish the catasetum book you were writing?
jemorchids
C. russelianum, dodsonii, thylasiochila, and glaucoglossa, are all spring
to summer bloomers and can be treated like catasetums
Jade from G R
Are Catasetum very heavy feeders?
MiamiBert
We grow GREAT Paphs! Ask Gene!
jim4eq (Miami)
Janette, don't say that, just bought 12 last weekend
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
Bert, I know Gene does. I've heard about his paphs. :-)
jemorchids
Many paphs are fine in South Florida, especially the multiflorals, but summer
greenhouse temperature of 105+ can make the a bit difficult to keep looking
good, and can cause a lot of loss in smaller seedlings.
MiamiBert
Catasetinae VERY heavy feeders - they grow so fast! I use Osmacote in addition
to liquid fertilizing
jemorchids
When Catasetums are in active growth they are very heavy feeders. We are
currently growing several mounted on inverted Vanda baskets in out Vanda
house, giving them the same feeding schedule as Vandas... mainly trying
to produce more female flowers under the higher light conditions so we can
make more crosses.
Carol Holdren (Boca Raton)
Gene, I always get female flowers. Should I grow mine with Phal light?
MiamiBert
Gene, I've got one location produces 2/3 females! Boarding available
Jade from G R
Would weakly weekly probably be too weak for them when they are in flower?
What do you suggest?
jemorchids
Equitantman, I don't mean to ignore your question, but wanted to cover the
main topic first. We have not published a printed catalog since going on
the web, omitting our normal summer mailing for 1998. This caused a reduction
of about 50% in catalog sales. Website does bring in some new customer though.
marylois
That's cause not all the busy orchid growers are on line - think you need
both venues, Gene.
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
I really do like your website though. It is very well arranged and easy
to find what you are looking for.
jemorchids
Carol, yes try lower light and less fertilizer.
Jade from G R
I took a quick peak when it was getting slow and agree. I like the site.
Less paper to shuffle too.
BTague (Barbara, N. CA)
Gene, so you do need to give them less light in order to hope for female
flowers?
doneng (Don from Boca Raton
Female catasetum blooms look like little old ladies in football helmets.
jemorchids
No Barbara, high light and heavy fert = female flowers, low light and
low fert = male flowers, females always like to be in the limelight!
MiamiBert
To touch all bases should mention fifth Catasetinae species, Dressleria
BTague (Barbara, N. CA)
I see Gene, I like the female flowers, my greenhouse is very high lighting,
works out well.
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
I'm just happy when ours have flowers. Don't care what sex they are.
jemorchids
DDressleria, separated out of Catasetum some time back by an aspiring taxonomist,
tend to like to stay on the moist side, with minimal drying in winter
Miami bert
Have a classic photo of Cyc. peruvianum inflor; top flower female, next AC-DC,
and the rest male, all on same inflorescence.
MiamiBert
What about book, Gene; do you have a chapter in Holst's book?
Jade from G R
Gene, What do you recommend for a fertilizing schedule and strength for
Catasetums?
doneng (Don from Boca Raton)
Bert, was the sex arrangement caused by lots of bad fertilizer?
jemorchids
Bert, that sounds like the award slide of Cyc. peruvianum 'JEM' which Erik
Christionason is trying to make a new species or something. Got to sign
off now, its been nice chatting!
MiamiBert
It was Charlie Ochipa's plant; don't know what he does
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
Gene, we enjoyed having you. Thanks a lot!
UncleEarl (Earl in Vacaville, CA)
Nite, Gene. Good one.
sparkysteve (Topic: An evening with Gene Monnier, JEM Orchids, Delray
Beach FL)
Nite Gene---thanks for coming in---and you were very informative---come back
again!!
gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
Gene does have some very interesting plants.
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
That is one place I am definitely going if we ever make it to FL. Want to
make the Miami show too, Bert. Probably will combine the two.
Jade from G R
Never did get an answer to my question about fertilizing catasetum. What
a good fertilizer blend?
MiamiBert
Fertilize weekly with 20-20-20, Tbl/gal AND 1 tsp 14-14-14 Osmacote/pot
in late spring.
Evlyn Sorry I'm late - what's best male or female flowers?
gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
Evlyn, male flowers are prettier, naturally.
MiamiBert
Female flowers tend to be fewer, but last much longer. They are less well
known and rarer, but I've had some spectacular female inflorescences this
year.
JanetteH (In the foothills of NC )
Do you grow Clowesii, Steve?
sparkysteve
I tried them janette---they need too much TLC!!!!!
MiamiBert
Book on Catasetinae by Holst supposed to come out later in year.
Jade from G R
Bert: What press will be doing it?
gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
I thought the World of Catasetums was supposed to be out already, what seems
to be holding it up, could it be Timber Press?
MiamiBert
Holst, Timber Press.
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