Catasetum tenebrosum

[golforchid]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Good to know Bruno! I move to a new State and that may be the reason it is stressed. I also just potted it in s/h style media, so it could also be adapting to its new environment. I know some types of orchids end up dying if they get too big, do you think that could be happening here? I am going to chop it into smaller pieces after this growing season.

Didn't you previously live in Hawaii..and now you're in the great state of Texas - very different conditions, particularly with regard to temperature and humidity. Also weren't you growing outdoors in Hawaii..what are your conditions now?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by golforchid

Didn't you previously live in Hawaii..and now you're in the great state of Texas - very different conditions, particularly with regard to temperature and humidity. Also weren't you growing outdoors in Hawaii..what are your conditions now?

Hey Golf,
Yes, I was previously in Hawaii and growing outside. Most of my orchids have been outside here in TX since March 12th. I am trying some of my plants in s/h and most of them are inside, so their conditions are fairly typical of the inside of a house. Outside, however, is very different. The humidity is mostly above 50%, though yesterday it went down to 12% overnight. The temperature is usually between 80-90, but I understand that in the summer 110 degrees is fairly common. Here is a thread I started showing my outdoor grow space: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...tin-texas.html Im not really sure what I will do when the temperature gets hot. A mist system maybe?

[golforchid]

I grew up in Texas and still have family there - will be in Austin 4/23-4/30. Think those folks with greenhouses use evaporative coolers - there are two commercial firms in the area - It's A Jungle in Austin and Miller's Tropicals in Dripping Springs. Down Houston way are Clown Alley Orchids and Stephen Moffitt (he's on Facebook and I think he's growing in a shade house) Good luck.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by golforchid

I grew up in Texas and still have family there - will be in Austin 4/23-4/30. Think those folks with greenhouses use evaporative coolers - there are two commercial firms in the area - It's A Jungle in Austin and Miller's Tropicals in Dripping Springs. Down Houston way are Clown Alley Orchids and Stephen Moffitt (he's on Facebook and I think he's growing in a shade house) Good luck.

Thanks for the heads up! I was actually at Miller's yesterday with my local society on a greenhouse tour! lol I will definitely have to visit Clown Ally and Stephen Moffitt in Houston when I head down that way. Thanks!

[catasetum-ian]

interesting sharing of info,,,and never knew all the the time that ctsm produces sweet sap,,,,will try on one the next time if had the chance.
one question here....though your ctsm is planted in SH, how come the PB still shriveled that much?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by catasetum-ian

one question here....though your ctsm is planted in SH, how come the PB still shriveled that much?

My guess is that there is not enough light for the plant to produce adequate reserves for the plant. Its getting more light now as the sun moves across the sky for summer, so the bulbs should plump up. I'll keep you updated as the season progresses and the bulbs change.

[catasetum-ian]

Originally Posted by isurus79

My guess is that there is not enough light for the plant to produce adequate reserves for the plant. Its getting more light now as the sun moves across the sky for summer, so the bulbs should plump up. I'll keep you updated as the season progresses and the bulbs change.

thanks for the feed back Steve, i am very new to catasetums but i adore them very much, infact more 50% of my collections are catasetums. so i am trying to gain every info possible on catasetums culture. thanks again and looking forward for your future post on the developement of the PB.

[Angurek]

So what if it hasn't produced male flowers. I think the female flowers look neat, and the plant is very healthy. I'd count my blessings.

[RJSquirrel]

to add some more mystery to this,one of the vendors you mentioned has just the same catasetum you mentioned in spike. one is male that has a bundle of buds and the other is female with the large gumballs grown under the same conditions..sooooooooo light water x x x x x...

[mark15]

Have you tried to breed with it? Female flowers are the exception, not the rule. That whole light being the determining factor I believe isn't true at all. I have a couple of Tenebrosum x Donna Wise blooming/going in to bloom right now and the strongest one with the biggest bulbs is blooming 4 female flowers. 2 other less robust plants are blooming all male and 1 intermediate robustness plant is blooming with 1 female flower and 5 male flowers.