Catasetum schmidtianum is found in Brazil, Mato Grosso State, along the Sepotuba River. It grows on trees in gallery forest along the river at elevations of 100 to 300 meters.
Catasetum schmidtianum also called as Schmidt's Catasetum, Catasetum psuedocatasetum, is a species of the genus Catasetum. This species was described by Francisco E.L.de Miranda & Kleber Garcia de Lacerda in 1992.
IDENTIFY CATASETUM SCHMIDTIANUM ORCHID PLANT
Catasetum schmidtianum is found in Brazil, Mato Grosso State, along the Sepotuba River. It grows on trees in gallery forest along the river at elevations of 100 to 300 meters.
It is a medium sized, hot growing epiphytic species with clustered, fusiform, to 16 cm long and 2.7 cm wide pseudobulbs enveloped basally by deciduous leaf sheaths carrying 8 to 10, arched, oblanceolate, plicate, to 34 cm long and 6.5 cm wide leaves.
Schmidt's Catasetum blooms in the summer and fall on a basal, erect to pendant, 45 cm long, racemose, several flowered inflorescence. The male flowers are about 50 x 50 mm in their natural position with coloration of peduncle light green; pedicels green to reddish; sepals with dark purple spotting (sepals and petals unspotted in some clones); petals of the same color, but with larger spots; lip almost completely covered with dark purple spotting; column rose-colored with fine purple spots; anther green-rose. The female flowers are with coloration of sepals and petals green with heavy brownish spotting on the apices; lip dark green, flushed with green-brown inside and out; column green.
This species is somewhat similar to Catasetum saccatum, but with significant differences. The lateral sepals do not spread out as much, and the upper surface of the lip is much more fleshy and verrucose, preventing its margins from being reflexed. The flower form is generally concave and upturned, the axis of the lip forming an angle of slightly more than 90 degrees with the column. Flower color is variable and quite different from that of Catasetum saccatum. Female flowers of Catasetum schmidtianum have a very short lip and their coloration represents a departure from the normal uniform green of the pistillate flowers of the genus.
CATASETUM SCHMIDTIANUM 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 schmidtianum 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:
The climate in their natural habitat is essentially continental. The dry season is long and the humidity is very low throughout much of the year. Days are hot and dry, while nights are fairly cool. The terrain is typically tropical to subtropical savannah country, with the surface soil shallow and incapable of sustaining large trees. Temperatures range from a maximum 40°C to a minimum 10°C. In cultivation, 18°C is the ideal minimum night temperature.
Humidity:
Schmidt's 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 schmidtianum should be grown in a 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. 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 schmidtianum 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.
COMMENTS