Catasetum punctatum, refers to the spots on the flowers, is found in Brazil, in the Bahia State. It grows in forest that is dry much of the year.
Catasetum punctatum also called as The Spotted Catasetum, is a species of the genus Catasetum. This species was described by Robert Allen Rolfe in 1894.
IDENTIFY CATASETUM PUNCTATUM ORCHID PLANT
Catasetum punctatum, refers to the spots on the flowers, is found in Brazil, in the Bahia State. It grows in forest that is dry much of the year.
It is a medium sized, hot and dry growing epiphyte with fusiform, 10 cm long and 3 cm wide pseudobulbs carrying 6, plicate, 3 veined, linear-lanceolate, dark green, to 30 cm long and 5 cm wide leaves.
The Spotted Catasetum blooms in the late spring and early summer on a 30 cm long, arching, to 10 flowered inflorescence holding the fragrant flowers in the apical half. The male flowers are about 42 x 45 mm in their natural position with coloration of peduncle and pedicels green; sepals and petals green with red-brown spots; lip green to orange-yellow. The female flowers are not seen.
The key to identify this species is its heavily spotted sepals, its petals are less spotted, its lip is orange-yellow.
CATASETUM PUNCTATUM 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 punctatum 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 (40-60 % 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:
Their climate is tropical to subtropical, with dry, near desert-like conditions. It has an even longer dry season and low humidity almost year-round. Most of the moisture results from nighttime dews. Temperatures range from a maximum 40°C to a minimum 15°C. In cultivation, 18°C is the ideal minimum night temperature.
Humidity:
The Spotted 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 punctatum is best to grow in 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. This plant can also mounted on wood. This option presupposes that the plant is sufficiently strong, that it is not so large as to be unwieldy when hanging from its mount, that the grower can provide adequate humidity for it during the growing season, that the conversion to mounting is done at the very beginning of the growth cycle, and that the species is known to adapt readily to this cultural practice.
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. Mounted, basket-grown plant may be watered every sunny day during the growing season, provided conditions are such that they dry off relatively quickly. 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 punctatum accustomed to a long, dry rest period. When the plants are leafless and no new growths are visible, the grower must respect their state of dormancy. Watering frequency should be reduced during dormancy. Fertilization should stop completely during this period. In the springtime, at the beginning of the growth cycle, water should not be made regularly available for the newly developing roots until the new growth is at least 5 cm tall.
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