Catasetum discolor is found in inland northern South America, from Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Surinam to eastern Brazil. it grows in sandy soil, often between tufts of grass and under low trees and bushes near gallery forests and in savannah, at elevation of 500 to 1100 meters. They are also reported to grow epiphytically on palm trees.
Catasetum discolor also called as The Differently Colored Catasetum, Catasetum cassideum, Catasetum ciliatum, Catasetum claesianum, Catasetum discolor f genuinum, Catasetum discolor var bushnani, Catasetum discolor var claesianum, Catasetum discolor var. fimbriatum, Catasetum discolor var vinosum, Catasetum discolor var viridiflorum, Catasetum roseo-album, Monachanthus bushnani, Monachanthus discolor, Monachanthus discolor var. bushnani, Monachanthus discolor var. viridiflorus, is a species of the genus Catasetum. This species was described by John Lindley in 1834.
IDENTIFY CATASETUM DISCOLOR ORCHID PLANT
Catasetum discolor is found in inland northern South America, from Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Surinam to eastern Brazil. it grows in sandy soil, often between tufts of grass and under low trees and bushes near gallery forests and in savannah, at elevation of 500 to 1100 meters. They are also reported to grow epiphytically on palm trees.
It is a large sized, warm growing terrestrial, epiphyte or occasional lithophyte with ovoid to narrowly ovoid-fusiform, 2 to 3 noded pseudobulbs that become heavily ridged with age and enveloped basally by several leaf bearing sheaths carrying 6 to 7, plicate, petiolate, linear-lanceolate, acute, deciduous leaves.
The Differently Colored Catasetum blooms in the late fall to winter on an erect to arcuate, 45 cm long, densely several to many flowered inflorescence carrying fragrant, fleshy, non-resupinate flowers on a mature pseudobulb that is still leafy or not. The flowers are 3.75 cm in diameter with color variable, tending to be greenish, although rose-colored. Plants bearing female flowers are more common in full sun and growing in ant nests, while plants with male flowers usually occupy partially shady sites.
CATASETUM DISCOLOR ORCHID PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Catasetum discolor are sun-loving plant and needs a light level of 30000-60000 lux. To get male flowers the plant must be grow in 40-60% shade, and full sun to get female flowers. This species can be grown under lights if sufficient light intensity can be provided, and the plant certainly can be summered outdoors if their moisture requirements can be met.
Temperature:
In their natural habitat, the climate is evenly hot, moist, and tropical. This climate is almost the same year-round, with high humidity at night, even in the dry season, which is relatively short. The nighttime temperatures rarely fall below 18°C, with daytime highs generally from 29 to 35°C. The important thing is to maintain evenly warm conditions, and for this orchid the closer the night minimum is to 21°C, the better the plants will respond.
Humidity:
The Differently Colored Catasetum tolerate an environment with 40 - 60 % relative humidity during their growing season, but for optimal development of new growth and flowering, 70 % is recommended.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Catasetum discolor can be grown in sandy soil, pot, container or wooden basket with fir bark, osmunda, tree fern fiber, charcoal, and sphagnum, in various proportions or combined with still other ingredients such as sponge rock, perlite, leaf mold, peat, and bark screenings as substrate.
It is recommended to repot every year and never wait more than two years. The optimal time for potting or repotting is when new growth on a plant emerging from dormancy is about 5 cm tall and the nubs have developed into new roots that are reaching for support.
Watering:
In its natural habitat it receives rainfall frequently even while dormant. Basket-grown, and unconventionally potted plant may be watered every sunny day during the growing season, provided conditions are such that they dry off relatively quickly. In the case of conventionally potted adult plants, it should not be necessary to water more than once or, at most, twice a week. This species like to dry out at least slightly between waterings.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize with an appropriate formulation at least every week during the growing season, or fertilize with a weak formula every time the plants are watered. It is important to begin regular applications of high-nitrogen fertilizer (such as 10-5-5) with a full range of trace elements. As the leaves begin to unfurl, and well before flowering, add a high-phosphorus formula to develop big, strong pseudobulbs capable of producing robust inflorescences. Any of the soluble products with a large second-digit number (for example, 3-12-6) constitute a good source of phosphorus.
Rest period:
Catasetum discolor have a relatively short dormant period between leaf fall and new growth, and sometimes no dormancy at all, so the likelihood that at least some of their basic root system will survive from one growing season to the next increases. For this reason it is desirable to maintain a watering schedule, albeit reduced, during dormancy.
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