Catasetum spike initiation tips?

[MartinaM]

Hi everyone!
This is my second year growing Catasetum Pileatum 'Green Bat' and it has not flowered yet. The bulb is twice as big as last years' bulb and it's quite healthy. How late in the fall should it spike? I'm in Eastern Canada so daylight has diminished and the temps have gone down quite a bit. I did read everything that I could find on Catasetum orchids!
Am I missing something? Any tips would be appreciated.

[orchidsarefun]

I have 20+ Catasetums. The only one that doesn't bloom for me is pileatum and that is the same for a number of other growers. Mine grows well and I've even divided it. Maybe we are too far North and the weather has something to do with it ? I've even tried under lights and its made no difference.

[AvantGardner]

What is your light intensity like? Mine take about 12 hrs at 2500-3500 fc. a day. Also, high summer temps help, even up to 38c. Then there’s fertilizer, I use a full tsp/gal. Ppm N can be as high as 100, every watering (okay, maybe I knock it down a bit a few times a month). I water every day in summer (or thereabouts).

---------- Post added at 03:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------

Try using a medium that dries out in a 24 hour period, or small pots. I’ve found this has been the most beneficial tweak I’ve made since starting with this group. This increases the amount of fertilizer to the roots. I’ve also found p-bulb size does not always translate to flowering energy, unfortunately. At least not in the same season.

[MartinaM]

Wow you have many Catasetums! Of course I had to pick the most difficult to flower! I only have the one.

---------- Post added at 06:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:17 PM ----------

Interesting. I left mine outside all summer. I'm waiting for a spike! It's in a very small pot. I'm crossing my fingers for a flower spike!

[isurus79]

Tough to say. Are you sure the plant is large enough to bloom? Pics would help.

Bernie Butts grows this species in Canada (see his facebook page called Catesetinae (Can), Cyrtopodinae & related intergenerics) under lights all year long and is able to get blooms, so I don't think its a latitude issue.

---------- Post added at 11:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:50 AM ----------

Also, I'm assuming your outdoor plant is inside now!

[MartinaM]

Yes it is now indoors as it too cold outside! Sorry about the sideways pic! I've cut down on watering but I'm not sure what to do next.

[fishmom]

I can see a nice progression in size with your most recent pseudobulb. It may just be an age issue, with spikes coming as the plant matures. I would push the light, water, and fertilizer next year in hopes of continuing the increasing size.

[MartinaM]

Thanks for the link. He has a website.

---------- Post added at 09:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 AM ----------

The Bernie Butts website says that they like 6-8°C at night! Maybe I should have left it outdoors? Once nights went down to 12°C brought it inside thinking I would damage or kill it. Good luck with yours!