Ctsm. Sanguineum x susan fuchs in spike!

[Bulbofett]

Originally Posted by reliablefool

Aww...I've been reading that you get female flowers with higher/more light so maybe try a slightly shadier spot next season? =\ I guess that's the advantage of some of the intergenerics in this family...you end up with the perfect flowers that have both sexes.

Yeah definitely learned my lesson with this one. I just wish I hadn't read that these guys need Cattleya equivalent light.

[vjo]

I think you can cover the spikes with a dark paper tent of sorts or a piece of foil as it start to spike. That is what I read somewhere. Keeps the light off of the spike without disturbing the plant...Jean

[Bulbofett]

Originally Posted by vjo

I think you can cover the spikes with a dark paper tent of sorts or a piece of foil as it start to spike. That is what I read somewhere. Keeps the light off of the spike without disturbing the plant...Jean

Oh this is a great idea! I will try with my others, and see what happens. Does flower count get affected by the gender? This plant was supposed to have a beautiful spray of multiple flowers, but this female spike only produced 3. I fertilized and watered like a mad woman, so I don't think that would be the issue.

[katrina]

Covering the spike will make zero difference. The leading theory is that higher light will result in female flowers but these plants do need bright light or you won't get good growth. And, under one level of light you can have both male and female flowers...even on the same spike. You can also end up w/hermaphrodite flowers. And all of that showing up under the same level of light.

In an effort to up my flower count this year I really pushed the light levels...40% shade cloth (vs previous 60%) and some more full sun during much of the day. So far...I am finding that might have been too much because all of my first 5 spikes for the year have all been female. Hell, one of the plants made 2 spike and both were female. My cloth is a thin swath so really the plants were getting full sun much of the day. I will be going back to the 60% next year and I will be widening the frame of that structure so the plants are tucked under it better.

Now, w/all of that said...I still have a strong chance for seeing male flowers. In previous years I would get the occasional female spike or a spike w/both male and female and then the plant would produce one or two more spikes and those would be all male. What I'm trying to get at here is that even though your plant has female flowers this time...it might produce another spike this fall and that could be male. If it doesn't make another spike this year then even under your current light levels it could be male next year.

I don't think I read what light level you are keeping them under. THey do need a lot of light or you won't get good growth and good blooming so typical cattleya (even a bit higher) level is right on the nose. But, like I said, even giving them perfect light can sometimes result in female flowers. After all, in nature, if they didn't make the females they wouldn't survive.

So, no, you don't want all females all the time or it's kind of boring and rather bland but the occasional female lets you know you have very healthy plants. They won't make females unless they are healthy enough the carry a pod. So, look at it as you're doing lots right and then hope for males the next time. But, if you're growing under cattleya light levels I would continue w/that level because clearly you have a very happy plant there.

BTW sanguineum is a species and as such is lower case letters.

As to the flower count...the female spikes do tend to have less flowers but flower count can also be a result of the age of the plant. The more mature, bigger and stronger they get..the more flowers you will see. If the plant is getting sufficient light.

[Bulbofett]

Originally Posted by katrina

Covering the spike will make zero difference.

There goes that plan then.

I figure if it is happy enough to spike, then I should at least be thankful for that. I was just really, really excited about this one since it is my largest Ctsm.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for male flowers after this spike, and see if the plant loves me enough to give me more.

I grow all of my Ctsm with my Cattleyas. The Ctsm. get slightly less light, but not that much. Only an hours worth less of direct sunlight in the morning. Thanks for your insight Katrina. In my greediness for a male flower I forgot that the plant isn't producing flowers for my enjoyment, so there are bound to be some females every now and again.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Bulbofett

I grow all of my Ctsm with my Cattleyas. The Ctsm. get slightly less light, but not that much. Only an hours worth less of direct sunlight in the morning. Thanks for your insight Katrina. In my greediness for a male flower I forgot that the plant isn't producing flowers for my enjoyment, so there are bound to be some females every now and again.

Sounds like...and from the look of it...you are doing everything right. Hang in there...males flowers will come.

[Bulbofett]

My plant heard me asking it to make a male spike, and I'm hoping that this is it! It already has female flowers, so this has got to be male....right?! RIGHT?!?!?

[katrina]

Only time will tell...fingers crossed for males.

[Bulbofett]

Not as ugly as I thought. The sepals are spotted. The bottom the dorsal has some fimbriation, and the inside is striped. All in all I'd say it is a pretty interesting looking female flower, as far as females go.

[reliablefool]

Yeah, it's a little different from the norm. As long as you don't get female flowers all the time they can be interesting.