Intimidating Catasetum Buds

[Junebug]

These is the first time my Catasetum pileatum 'Oro Verde' has spiked under my care. Last year her blooms were male, but this year her unopened buds look rather intimidating and they remind me of prehistoric bird heads. I sure hope they don't bite, because they appear to have interest in my delicate cochleata blooms.

[kavanaru]

LOL, indeed.. they look weird.. but that's the way all female catasetum buds look like Don't you have Catasetum or Cycnoches or Clowesia pollen available?

[camille1585]

Didn't know these species had male or female flowers! What is it that will determine the sex of the flowers? Temperature? Can you have both on the same spike?

[kavanaru]

Camille, most Catasetinae have functionally male or female flowers. You will very often read that High Lights will induce female flowers and low lights will induce male flowers... This is partially true, but not the whole story... Normally, and I think this is more important, you need a mature and strong plant to produce female flowers (with some exceptions, as always). Catasetum on the other hand, seems to follow a "cyclical pattern", producing female flowers every 3-5 years (of, course, being the plant strong.. and with some exceptions too).

Just think of a plant which produces the larger pods of the orchid family and the highest number of seeds per pod... This is a huge task and requires a lot of energy... that's why you need strong plants, and then also not repeating the same story every year...

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

LOL, indeed.. they look weird.. but that's the way all female catasetum buds look like Don't you have Catasetum or Cycnoches or Clowesia pollen available?

Nope, this is my only Catasetum and I have no pollen. Last year she was delivered with male buds and bloomed male once again from another spike a few weeks later. Back then she was growing on my screened porch. This spring I transferred her to the shade house and it's much brighter out there. It's too bad she didn't throw both male and female spikes. I would have rather had male blooms. This experience has been educational, but next year she's going back to the porch.

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Junebug

It's too bad she didn't throw both male and female spikes.

with the exception of very few species, you will normally never have both female and male flowers at the same time on the same plant....

Originally Posted by Junebug

I would have rather had male blooms

well, yes, most people would prefer that too... except when you want to reproduce them...

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Didn't know these species had male or female flowers! What is it that will determine the sex of the flowers? Temperature? Can you have both on the same spike?

Hi Camille. Great to have you back!

Ramon covered the topic very well, but I have read of instances where a single plant has produced different spikes with one spike producing female blooms and the other male at the same time. Fascinating isn't it?

[camille1585]

Interesting! I'm surprised that I hadn't heard of this before, but then again Catasetinae are not something I've really read up on.

Are they easy to grow? I'm preparing an order at Schwerter and and now think I might add one in if I can decide what to take out in exchange! (in anticipation of my very first paycheck at the end of the month )

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

with the exception of very few species, you will normally never have both female and male flowers at the same time on the same plant....


well, yes, most people would prefer that too... except when you want to reproduce them...

I wonder, when this occurs, if the plant has actually divided itself due to some force of nature...thus resulting in one division producing male and the other female.

My plant has grown very well this year and I'd have to call her robust which makes since with the resulting female buds. This is what she looks like now.

[kavanaru]

Camille, Catasetinae are very easy to grow! They only need a lot of light (Cattleya or higher) and lots of water and fertilizer during the growing season. Important: DO NOT WATER before the new growth has roots of at least 5 cm long!

Schwerter has currently some very nice Catasetinae! If you order I would recommend to get Catasetum pileatum "Green Gold", as it is normally not easily found in Europe ('Oro Verde' is much easier to get, and probably cheaper in France!)... ok, it is more expensive than 'Oro Verde', but if you can get it, do it The plant is very nice and can be blooming next year!