Catasetums looking good over here too...

[Roberta]

I'm getting some action on the "left coast of the US" as well! Ctsm expansum grows for me super well - the first to bloom just had 2 (male) flowers, but there's another spike on the way. (flowers are fading fast... I probably triggered pollinia in the process of moving it into the house) Then, another Ctsm. expansum has a nice spike, going to get females (buds already have the shape. male buds are more pointy), but there's another spike starting, I can hope for males. (Another division of that plant is just starting a spike, getting less light, so maybe..) and hybrid Ctsm. J&R Solar is getting to pop - and will be male so I'll get a nice show. And more spikes too. Definitely an excellent year underway - I can't recall when I got so much blooming activity so early. Maybe it's because the plants are maturing, but a very young one from SVO's sale last fall bloomed even earlier.

[jcec1]

Things are happening way further north and across the pond as well.

It's been a cool (cooler) summer here, the plants are always indoors, but I think there has been only one day above 20C so far. Day length at the moment is 17h30m though.

[Shadeflower]

Nah you two still haven't convinced me on Catasteums but they look happy whatever is going on there

[DirtyCoconuts]

Stunning, Roberta.

Simpleton question, do you regard there being any issue with being a blooming plant inside or into less light?

I’ve thought about it but never wanted to make them blast

[Roberta]

Some Catts do better if they are fully opened for a day or 2 before bringing in. But Catasetinae, no issue that I can see. In fact, probably better to move them before they're fully open - you're less likely to trigger the pollinia with the motion. On the male flowers, they're short-lived enough as it is (usually 2 weeks or less) and if they get triggered, they fade within a day or so. When the flowers age, they usually spontaneously eject pollinia... once I start having to clean them off the floor, plants go back outside done or not.

[isurus79]

Looks great!

[StephaneL]

A few hundred kilometers north, my Catasetum Mem. Dorothy Wells is about to bloom, but my Catasetum pileatum still has a long way to go. I have no idea if this is early or not since it is the first year I'll bloom Catasetums.

[Roberta]

Looking great! I have a Ctsm. pileatum that is getting close too. I recall things running later in past years, maybe I forgot the early ones... but lots of activity - and those incipient spikes just raise the excitement level! It will be a good season! And some that bloom early may do another bloom toward the end of the season too!