Catasetum callosum

Also known as: The Callused Catasetum or Catasetum callosum var. grandiflorum Catasetum fuliginosum Catasetum darwinianum Catasetum callosum h.f. album Catasetum arachnoides Catasetum callosum var. eucallosum Catasetum recurvatum Catasetum landsbergii Catasetum callosum var. typum Catasetum acallosum Catasetum arachnoideum Myanthus grandiflorus Myanthus landsbergii Myanthus callosus in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Departamento del Huila - Colombia Mato Grosso do Sul - Brazil Sao Paulo - Brazil

General Information

The Callused Catasetum is a warm to hot growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Colombia and Brazil.

Plant Description

Grows to 55cm. Each new growth has numerous leaves that grow to 8-35cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 20cm

Flowers

Numerous fragrant blossoms appear during Winter

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Blooming Season

• Winter

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Bark
• Charcoal
• Treefern
• Spaghnum Moss
• Perlite

Care Notes

These orchids like to be kept on the dry side, but may need to be watered daily during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered regularly.

These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.

Fragrant:

• IsFragrant

Climate

Grows at low to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 10mm to 109mm per day, heaviest in July and lightest in February. Humidity ranges from 73% to 83%, highest in November and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 11C to 25C, highest in April (14C to 25C) and lowest in January (11C to 22C).

Watering

Keep moisture levels up during hot weather as the plant is prone to dehydration

Fertiliser

These plants thrive on fertiliser, especially during periods of growth. Liquid fertiliser can be applied year round at the recommended strength, augmented with manure pellets or other quickly degradable fertiliser, applied away from the base of the plant, during periods of strong growth. Slow release pellets can also be applied year round at the rate of 2-3 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.

They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, and by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears. 

Use balanced fertiliser year round. Be sure to flush out excess fertiliser by running water through the media regularly year round. This plant is a heavy feeder year round, full strength fertiliser can be used. Fertiliser can be applied heavily year round. Use a high Nitrogen fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer.

Potting

These plants are quite forgiving and will do well repotted ever 2-3 years. The mix should be coarse, well draining, and allow space for air to move and for roots to grow. 

Alternatively, these plants will also do well mounted to tree fern or cork slabs, or mounted to trees.

Best time for repotting or mounting the orchids is the end of winter when new growths start to appear. Avoid repotting during hot weather,

Use water retentive media such as moss to prevent roots from drying out quickly This plant does very well in baskets or suspended pots This plant does well mounted. Repotting is best done annually.