The Aliens are Back - Female Catasetum Blooms

[Junebug]

Aliens are what I always think of when I see female blooms from my Catasetum pileatum 'Oro Verde'. The blooms are about 50% larger than they were last year. I guess that's a good sign.
Catasetum pileatum 'Oro Verde' - Orchid Board Galleries

[Shirley]

Wow! That looks like an enormous bloom and it's gorgeous! Nicely done!

[tucker85]

Obviously well grown. A testament to your excellent care. Those are very unusual flowers.

[Junebug]

Thanks, Sandy. For a female it's pretty big. Here are some photos of the entire plant for a better perspective. One of last years leafless bulbs has a spike forming too. I've got my fingers crossed for male blooms next time.

[glengary54]

Junebug - I am sooo envious, I have been trying for years to get female flowers on my Catasetinae to no avail no matter what I do. By the way, those flowers are huge for female flowers!!

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by glengary54

Junebug - I am sooo envious, I have been trying for years to get female flowers on my Catasetinae to no avail no matter what I do. By the way, those flowers are huge for female flowers!!

Thank you, Glen. It grows hanging about 6 1/2' from the ground facing South, but it receives a little east and west exposure too. It's protected from direct sunlight by a slat roof spaced roughly 2" apart and by walls of 4" lattice. The gender of the blooms vary. I'm not convinced the gender difference is related to light because this plant is always grown in the same location. This is the second spike this season. I accidentally broke off the first spike a few months ago. The buds hadn't had a chance to develop, but that spike's circumference was huge compared to this one. There's a healthy 2" keiki growing from one of the older canes that's still too small to remove. I hope it survives dormancy but I doubt if it will. This is what it looks like now.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by tucker85

Obviously well grown. A testament to your excellent care. Those are very unusual flowers.

Thanks, Tucker. I didn't know about the variation of bloom gender when I got the plant. The first few spikes had male blooms, pretty, yellow and fragrant, that looked nothing like the female blossoms. I like the females too, because of their bizarre, unusual looking appearance and because they last longer than the male blooms.

[RJSquirrel]

crossed fingers don't make male flowers , more time in the light does that without crossing the fingers

pretty and green

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

crossed fingers don't make male flowers , more time in the light does that without crossing the fingers

pretty and green

Thanks, RJ. This plant grows in the same spot all the time and I don't let other plants obscure its exposure to sunlight. Having said that, sometimes it blooms male and sometimes female. Last year it produced male blooms when the days were much shorter than they are now. Crossing my fingers is the best I can do.

[Merlyn]

Actually the more light = the more female blooms. Stop crossing your fingers and attach a piece of shade cloth or something similar to block some of the sun.