Catasetum expansum

[Bruno De Toni]

Congratulations Gena very nice pics, I like very much your expansum because it is spotless, the yelow and green color are very delicate.

[RosieC]

Wow, great comparison shots. Those are so cool.

[Gena]

Bruno,
Rosie,
Thank you!

Originally Posted by Bruno De Toni

I like very much your expansum because it is spotless

And I’m missing spotted one …. This is why I bought very small Catasetum expansum 'Jumbo' from Jumbo Orchids last year. Two or three years more and I will, hopefully, see first flowers.

[Olga]

Gena, how big should it be before one can expect flowers? I recently bought one, and to me it looks big enough, but no signs of flowers.

[Gena]

Originally Posted by Olga

Gena, how big should it be before one can expect flowers? I recently bought one, and to me it looks big enough, but no signs of flowers.

Olga, Catasetums can flower when they are still young but expansum you can't call for miniature .... rather miniature palm-tree (just kidding ). I will try to find a picture of mine in full size.
Theoretically you can say that adult plant do have PB about 8-10 inches.

[Olga]

OK, thank you. Mine is still a baby then - mere 6 inches. I guess I should have asked this question before I bought it

[Gena]

Olga, here is a picture of mine from last year.



Note, that PB is not fully developed on that picture.

[Olga]

Thank you! A palm tree it is So it flowers on an immature PB? Then I definitely can calm down and wait for the next (at least) year. Mine has mature PB, almost ready to rest. Maybe the next year, or the one after.

[Gena]

Originally Posted by Olga

So it flowers on an immature PB?

Olga, mine blooming twice each year. For the first time it blooms on immature PB during the summer. Second flowering occurs later in fall when PB is almost completed.