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Catasetum

Catasetum

Also called Helmet orchid

Houseplant · Orchids

IT WANTS HEAVY FEEDING IN SUMMER AND NOTHING AT ALL IN WINTER — no water for months while it is leafless. Watering it during the rest rots the bulb, and that is the only way most people lose it.

Care at a glance

Ease
Hard
Water
Every 5 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
Light
Bright indirect
Feed
Every 21 days
Humidity
Average to high
Hardiness
Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
Size
0.6 m tall · 0.6 m across
Lifecycle
Perennial
Origin
Central and South America

Is it safe for pets and people?

PetsNothing recorded against it

No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.

PeopleNot checked yet

Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.

Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.

A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

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