Catasetums Blooming

[Curtis2010]

Pics of a couple of Catasetums starting to bloom here (not quite fully open yet). I believe they are Viridiflavums. Naturally occurring here in Guate.

[Bud]

Those are beautiful blooms...I envy you can grow orchids outdoors

[camille1585]

Bueatiful, you are very lucky to be able to grow outdoors like that year round

[catasetum-ian]

Originally Posted by Curtis2010

Pics of a couple of Catasetums starting to bloom here (not quite fully open yet). I believe they are Viridiflavums. Naturally occurring here in Guate.

healthy plant you have there!!!
but i believe those are catasetum integerrimum

[Curtis2010]

Originally Posted by catasetum-ian

healthy plant you have there!!!
but i believe those are catasetum integerrimum

Thanks. I will take a look at the integerrimum.

Just found another little Catasetum growing on the side of a coconut tree near my house. Not blooming yet.

[Curtis2010]

Just doing some initial research and I think you may be right re it being an integerrium. I have another plant which I believe is a viridiflavum and I just assumed this one was also....apparently not.

The other plant which I think is a viridiflavum is just about to bloom again so I can double check and confirm.

(It gets confusing around here sometimes....I just found 3 more species of orchids today I have not seen before!)

[glengary54]

Curtis - I'm curious, are you collecting your plants from the wild?

[catasetum-ian]

Originally Posted by Curtis2010

Just doing some initial research and I think you may be right re it being an integerrium. I have another plant which I believe is a viridiflavum and I just assumed this one was also....apparently not.

The other plant which I think is a viridiflavum is just about to bloom again so I can double check and confirm.

(It gets confusing around here sometimes....I just found 3 more species of orchids today I have not seen before!)

the closest hooded catasetums that looks like integerrimum is ctsm maculatum. ctsm viridiflavum are quite distinctive by the different appearance of the hood,

[isurus79]

I always enjoy seeing people growing orchids outside! Congrats on the blooms!

[Curtis2010]

Originally Posted by glengary54

Curtis - I'm curious, are you collecting your plants from the wild?

Short answer: No, normally I don't collect from the wild. I typically don't collect any from the wild unless they have fallen from their perch and are going to die anyway.

Longer explanation:

But what is "normal" has a rather short history for me - I just started trying to sort out the bewildering array of orchids here a few weeks ago and have no prior background with orchids.

I live on a river that runs through the mountains and jungles of Guatemala. I can just walk or paddle around my place and find new varieties every day. For example, the larger of the Catasetums I posted is a naturally occurring orchid near my boat house -- judging from the size it has been there quite a long time (It was there when I arrived over 5 years ago). The smaller Catasetum, as you can see, is mounted. I am not sure if it was originally collected or imported because my wife originally imported a refrigerated container -- yup, as in "container ship" -- containing hundreds of plants.

So, in addition to the many naturally occurring varieties I also have many imported/hybrid varieties. I may have to break down and buy Orchid Wiz just to keep my head from exploding!