Catasetum Olga (galeritum X pileatum)

[glengary54]

Bud - As interesting as that is, it is not the norm.

[Merlyn]

Oh oh, the hook's setting deeper !!! LOL !!!

The Catasetums in the alliance put their spikes out the bottm of the pseudobulb like that. The Cycnoches and Cycnodes put spikes out of their upper leaf axils.
.

[glengary54]

Originally Posted by Merlyn

Oh oh, the hook's setting deeper !!! LOL !!!

The Catasetums in the alliance put their spikes out the bottm of the pseudobulb like that. The Cycnoches and Cycnodes put spikes out of their upper leaf axils.
.

Just to make things more clear, my last post actually was referring to the very narrow base of the bulb, not the flower spike. And the Mormodes and Clowesia also bloom like the Catasem, from the base of the bulb. There, now I feel better. lol

[Merlyn]

Yeh, you're right, it got off to a funny start.

Didn't include Morm or Clo cause I've no experience with either. Except that I can kill Morms before they ever bloom !!! I've got a Clowesetum that might first bloom this season and 2 NOIDS that obviously have Clo in them that are both first budded and driving me nuts with anticipation !!! 3 spikes on the one closest to blooming ! Maybe next week ! ARRRRGHHH !!! LOL !!! Check out the sneak peeks !!!
.

[glengary54]

Merlyn - Great growing, are you growing under lights?

I know what you mean about the anticipation. Don't fret about the Mormodes, they are more differcult to grow than the rest of the alliance, fortunately they add so much color diversity to the gene pool that it is definitly worth growing them.

Just an aside about Clowesia, I don't know if you know that they have perfect flowers in that they have both male and female parts on each flower. It helps in hybridizing when you can't manage to get female flowers on your catasetums. The other great thing about them is that all of their progeny wind up with perfect flowers also.

One more thing that I meant to say earlier in this thread, when I first saw your Ctsm Olga, I swore that there was clowesia in it, the shape is so typical of a clowesia hybrid.

Do I sense some hybridizing happening in the near future? I would love to see what would come out of crosing your Olga on your Jean E Monnier. Just a thought. I'd even be wlling to have it flasked for you.: biggrin::biggr in::b iggrin::biggri n:

[Merlyn]

I DO have Morm. sinuata on my must have list but that's the ONLY one.

I knew about the Clos but I don't breed. Now you're bending my ear about the Olga/JEM cross !!! The only thing I know is to do it with a new bloom ! But which to which, I don't have a clue and what to do if they're not going to be both in bloom at the same time ? JEM is in bloom right now and it looks like Olga won't be for another month ! Freeze the pollinia ? I'd be willing to try it ONLY because you said you'd do the flask part ! I've only done a compot once and am not big on it but I could do it for this ! Email me and we can go further into this talk.

Chryss

[Shirley]

Originally Posted by Merlyn

Shirley, having never tried, is it hard to trade back & forth with you up there ? I'm talking dormant bare root pbulbs ?

Merlyn, I have no experience with that at all. I usually only buy plants from "across the border" when the sellers visit our shows in Canada. I think that, unless things are done in quantity, it's usually more hassle than it's worth. Too bad!

[isurus79]

This plant looks HUGE! How tall is it? Very well grown too.

[WhiteRabbit]

that's fabulous!

[Merlyn]

She IS LARGE !!! She's 29" and the pot is 6".