Catasetum socco is found in Brazil, from the state of Rio de Janeiro southward along the coast into the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina. It grows in the Atlantic coastal forest, form huge clumps in large trees in Santa Catarina State, Brazil.
Catasetum socco also called as The Scooped Catasetum, Cypripedium socco, Catasetum trulla, Catasetum trulla var. subimberbe, Catasetum trulla var. maculatissimum, Catasetum lichtensteinii, Paphiopedilum socco, Catasetum trulla var. lichtensteinii, Catasetum trulla var. typum, is a species of the genus Catasetum. This species was described by Frederico Carlos Hoehne in 1952.
IDENTIFY CATASETUM SOCCO ORCHID PLANT
Catasetum socco is found in Brazil, from the state of Rio de Janeiro southward along the coast into the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina. It grows in the Atlantic coastal forest, form huge clumps in large trees in Santa Catarina State, Brazil.
It is a medium sized, warm to hot growing epiphyte with fusiform, to 18 cm long and 5 cm wide pseudobulbs carrying oblong-ligulate, plicate, to 40 cm long and 7 cm wide leaves.
The Scooped Catasetum blooms in the spring through fall on a basal, to 30 cm long, arching to pendant, to 20 flowered inflorescence carrying fragrant flowers. The male flowers are about 25 x 15 mm with coloration of sepals and petals light green; lip light green, with brown on the apex. The female flowers are 25 x 15 mm with coloration green or yellow-green.
Although its flowers (and pseudobulbs) vary exceedingly depending on a plant's location, this species is distinguished from others by its triangular-shaped lip alone.
CATASETUM SOCCO 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 socco 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 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 Scooped 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 socco should be grown in 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:
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:
Catasetum socco have a relatively short dormant period between leaf fall and new growth. 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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