Catasetum luridum is native to South America, where it is distributed from Guyana to Brazil. In Brazil, it grows in the Atlantic coastal forest in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Rio de Janeiro.
Catasetum luridum also called as The Pale Yellow Catasetum, Anguloa lurida, Catachaetum literatum, Catachaetum squalidum, Catasetum abruptum, Catasetum craniomorphum, Catasetum literatum, Catasetum purpurescens, Catasetum squalidum, Catasetum trifidum, Catasetum turbinatum, Epidendrum allare, Epidendrum ollare, is a species of the genus Catasetum. This species was described by John Lindley in 1833.
IDENTIFY CATASETUM LURIDUM ORCHID PLANT
Catasetum luridum is native to South America, where it is distributed from Guyana to Brazil. In Brazil, it grows in the Atlantic coastal forest in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Rio de Janeiro.
It is a large sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte with fusiform, to 12 cm long and 3 cm wide pseudobulbs carrying plicate, linear-lanceolate, to 60 cm long and 10 cm wide, with 35 prominent nerves leaves.
The Pale Yellow Catasetum blooms in the spring in nature with a erect to arching, 60 cm long, rather loosely 5 to 10 flowered inflorescence with fragrant, fleshy, nodding flowers. The male flowers are about 4 cm diameter with coloration light green, often yellowish; sepals and petals may be marked with red on both sides; lip suffused lightly to heavily with dark red, sometimes with longitudinal stripes inside. The female flowers are not seen.
It is similar to Catasetum globiflorum, except for lip structure. Midlobe protrudes and is slightly downturned, usually with a very shallow indentation in the middle. Flowers larger, more open, less globular, and more likely to have dark red spots, blotches, or stripes. In Catasetum globiflorum, on the other hand, the globular form of the flowers makes the lip less discernible.
CATASETUM LURIDUM 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 luridum are sun-loving plant and needs a light level of 30000-60000 lux. Unless the strong air movement found in the natural habitat can be duplicated, however, the grower should provide some shade (60 % shade). 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:
The climate in their natural habitat is subtropical. The terrain is hilly, with hot, humid air collecting at the base of the hills, then rising and condensing into mist or rain usually late in the day. The forest becomes saturated, with low temperatures at night, but in the morning the sun's rays and drier breezes promote evaporation. The dry season in winter is short, and nighttime humidity is high throughout the year. Temperatures range from a maximum 30°C to a minimum 10°C. In cultivation, 18°C is the ideal minimum night temperature.
Humidity:
The Pale Yellow 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 luridum should be grown in a basket because of its size, although it grows perfectly well in a sizable pot 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 luridum 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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