A tale of 2 cats

[orchidsarefun]

I don't know if my experience is typical, but the differences are noticeable.
Earlier this year I twisted a backbulb off a rooting cat. I left it to root and planted the "mother" plant as the roots were 3-4 inches long.
It took a while but the backbulb eventually rooted - I'd say about 3 weeks - and I then planted it in a plastic pot.
The photos show the story.
The cat in the green pot is the backbulb - I would estimate that its almost 1.5-2 x the size of the mother.
The mother - in the clay pot - is smaller, but the interesting thing is that it grew a "pup". This baby looks as if it will be a similar size to the mother.
They have identical potting mix and the same liquid fertiliser regime. Both had dynamite long-lasting fertiliser granules sprinkled into the mix.
The only differences are as follows
- the size of the pot
- plastic vs clay
- one bulb was planted out about 3 weeks after the other.
- the backbulb makes 1 baby, but the growbulb makes 2 ?
Has anyone else had a similar experience or can account for this discrepancy in growth and size ?

[WhiteRabbit]

Interesting!

[tucker85]

Congratulations on your success with the backbulb. Both plants look happy and healthy. They're obviously getting good care. Do you know the name of this orchid? I don't think it's a Cattleya. It looks like it could be a Schomburgkia or a cross between a Schomburgkia and a Cattleya.

[CTB]

Looks like a catasetum to me, I've never heard a nickname for them. I saw one yesterday that had seven keikis, it wasn't even planted. I didn't know they did that either. Thanks for sharing!!!

[orchidsarefun]

yep its a cat, not a catt.
Its Fdk after Dark.

[CTB]

If your plant drops its leaves in winter, you can remove all media and place each individual bulb in a plastic cup for the winter, and plant them up in the Spring when they begin to sprout. Just water sparely to keep them plump. You get a bunch quick.

Here in Florida, mine have not dropped their leaves for two years and I haven't even repotted them, and they are blooming right now. An interesting plant to say ther least. My friend had one bloom male and female flowers on the same stock. Really cool!!!!!

[isurus79]

Catasetums are friggin weird and do bizarre things all the time! Its one of the reasons I like to grow them....when I live in a place that has lots of room.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Catasetums are friggin weird and do bizarre things all the time! Its one of the reasons I like to grow them....when I live in a place that has lots of room.

they seem really easy to grow too, provided you hold off on watering in Winter. I would recommend for a beginner as they have everything going for them.......interesting growth habits, attractive foliage, scented/spectacular blooms for the most part and it seems impossible to overwater and overfertilise them when they are growing strongly.