Possibilities for Catasetum hybridization?

[isurus79]

You can store pollen in the fridge. I wrap mine in a bit of paper, but in a prescription bottle, and let it sit for a few years.

[SG in CR]

Originally Posted by isurus79

You can store pollen in the fridge. I wrap mine in a bit of paper, but in a prescription bottle, and let it sit for a few years.

Has that worked for you? I find that a lot of the pollen that I try to store for any extended length of time rarely produces a successful pollination. A few days, even a couple weeks sometimes, seems fine but the longer it's been stored, in the fridge or in a dry paper envelope, it seems the less likely a seed pod will form.

Also, in relation the Catasetum blooms, my experienece with C. maculatum is that in full sun they develop larger and pbulbs and female flowers once they have a good energy reserve to fuel the growth of their very large and fast growing seed pods. In the shade pbulbs remain long and skinny and nearly all the flowers will be male. Female bloomers may often produce a second or third spike that can be all over the place in term of what sort of blooms. I've had mixed spikes and flowers that produce pollen and seed.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by SG in CR

Has that worked for you? I find that a lot of the pollen that I try to store for any extended length of time rarely produces a successful pollination. A few days, even a couple weeks sometimes, seems fine but the longer it's been stored, in the fridge or in a dry paper envelope, it seems the less likely a seed pod will form.

Yep! Works great!

Originally Posted by SG in CR

Also, in relation the Catasetum blooms, my experienece with C. maculatum is that in full sun they develop larger and pbulbs and female flowers once they have a good energy reserve to fuel the growth of their very large and fast growing seed pods. In the shade pbulbs remain long and skinny and nearly all the flowers will be male. Female bloomers may often produce a second or third spike that can be all over the place in term of what sort of blooms. I've had mixed spikes and flowers that produce pollen and seed.

This is definitely true and is probably why early growers that that bright sun causes female flowers and that shade caused male flowers. Now we know that big plants throw female flowers and smaller or less well grown plants throw male flowers.