Catasetum triodon is found in Brazil, coastal region of the state of Santa Catarina. It grows in the Atlantic coastal forest.
Catasetum triodon also called as The Three Clawed Catasetum, Catasetum monodon, Catasetum triodon var guttulatum, is a species of the genus Catasetum. This species was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1857.
IDENTIFY CATASETUM TRIODON ORCHID PLANT
Catasetum triodon is found in Brazil, coastal region of the state of Santa Catarina. It grows in the Atlantic coastal forest.
It is a medium sized, cool growing epiphyte with fusiform, to 13 cm long and 3 cm wide pseudobulbs carrying 6, plicate, 3 veined, elliptic-lanceolate, to 40 cm long and 7 cm wide leaves.
The Three Clawed Catasetum blooms in the early spring and again in the summer or fall on a to 43 cm long, arching to pendant, to 10 flowered inflorescence. The male flowers are about 45 x 65 mm in their natural position with coloration of sepals and petals yellow-green with conspicuous dark red-brown spotting; lip yellowish overall, yellow in the center, with heavy spotting except in the yellow area; column very light green with a few spots. The female flowers are not seen.
The key to identify this species is the lip heavily fringed, triangular, with 1 to 3 apical appendages that could be called teeth.
CATASETUM TRIODON 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 triodon 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 Three Clawed 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 triodon can be grown in pot or 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. 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:
When the Catasetum triodon 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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