Catasetum sanguineum is found in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela (northeastern, north-central, as well as the extreme western region between Lake Maracaibo and the Perijá mountain range), and Costa Rica. It grows in tropical lowland to 800 meters, with a protracted dry season.
Catasetum sanguineum also called as The Red Catasetum, Catasetum naso var. pictum, Catasetum naso var. viride, Myanthus sanguineus, Catasetum sanguineum var. integrale, Catasetum sanguineum var. viride, is a species of the genus Catasetum. This species was described by John Lindley & Joseph Paxton in 1851.
IDENTIFY CATASETUM SANGUINEUM ORCHID PLANT
Catasetum sanguineum is found in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela (northeastern, north-central, as well as the extreme western region between Lake Maracaibo and the Perijá mountain range), and Costa Rica. It grows in tropical lowland to 800 meters, with a protracted dry season.
It is a medium sized, warm to hot growing epiphytic species with fusiform to conical, 4 noded, slightly rugose, to 15 cm long and 2.5 cm wide pseudobulbs subtended by scarious sheaths becoming leaf bearing sheaths above and carrying 2 apical, plicate, narrowly elliptical, to 35 cm long and 5 cm wide leaves.
The Red Catasetum blooms from the spring through fall on a basal, 30 cm long, racemose, erect to pendant, many flowered inflorescence arising on a newly mature pseudobulb carrying fragrant flowers. The male flowers are about 50 × 35 mm in their natural position with coloration of sepals and petals pale brown-green, lightly veined and spotted with purple, darker inside, showing through faintly on the outside; lip brown-green outside, cream-colored inside with brown-purple stripes; column creamy white. The female flowers are not seen.
The key to identify this species is its lip complex with a membrane covering the opening of the lip cavity. Thick midlobe ranging from broad and spade-like to narrow and pointed. Very similar to Catasetum naso, but distinguished by the lacerate margins of the entire base of the lip, whereas in Catasetum naso only the margins of the base extending around the column are lacerate, and tenuously so.
CATASETUM SANGUINEUM 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 sanguineum 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 Red 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 sanguineum should be potted in wood and bark chips or grown in a wooden basket for best results. 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. The 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:
When the Catasetum sanguineum 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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