Catasetum Alliance

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The Catasetum alliance primarily covers the genus Catasetum, Cycnoches, Mormodes, and Clowesia, but also includes genera like Galleandra, Cyanaeorchis, Dressleria, Grobya, and slightly distantly related to Cyrtopodium, Ansellia, Grammangis, and Grammatophyllum.

    Intergeneric hybrids have been made between many of these including Catanoches, Cycnodes, Monnierara, Fredclarkeara, Catamodes, Clowesetum, Catasellia, etc.

While many of the native genera and species of Catasetum, Cycnoches, and somewhat Mormodes prefer a dry cool winter rest during winter, if the winter is warm, plants can be continued to grow and watered year-round. If the winter is cooler to cold, then it is best to let these plants have the dry winter rest. Many growers remove the plant from the pot and even from the potting mix during this time, only repotting once the new roots on new growths have grown about 3" long or longer during the spring, then repotted. It is best to pot these plants in sphagnum moss for their active growth, as they like a lot of moisture while growing. You cna even use a mixture of fired clay pellets (Aliflor, Hydroton) and sphagnum moss.

Many of the multigeneric hybrids like Monnierara, only need a really short dry period and can be watered once new growths even start. 

Plants in this group Catasetum, Cycnoches, and Mormodes) can grow male, female, and hermaphroditic flowers, which can occur on each plant and sometimes all on the same flower spike. Brighter light to direct sun encourages female flowers, while lower light conditions encourage male flowers. It's the male flowers that are considered the nicest looking.

Watering: during active growth, water often. Plants like a lot of water during active growth so much as they can dry between watering. If roots are kept soggy, they will rot and that is not good.

Potting: allow only enough room for one year's growth to be pressed against the side of the pot, especially if you water often during active growth. Either plastic or clay pots may be used, I have found that plastic pots work better at retaining water during active growth. You may need to place the plastic pot into a clay pot to keep plants from falling over, especially taller plants. Potting medium we use typically is sphagnum moss to provide better water retention. 

Fertilizer: we use a good balanced time released fertilizer in the sphagnum or one with a higher nitrogen level, especially at the beginning of active growth as plants are very hungry feeders. Water based fertilizers can be added weekly of bimonthly during active growth as well. Used balanced numbers for this.