Catasetum tenebrosum

[isurus79]

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Catasetum tenebrosum by Isurus79, on Flickr[/IMG]

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Catasetum tenebrosum by Isurus79, on Flickr[/IMG]

So for all of those people who still believe that high/low light conditions are the only reason for male/female flowers in Catasetums, I present a very mature, large plant currently being grown in 100% shade that threw female flowers. Unfortunately, I have never seen male flowers from this plant (which I have owned for 3 years at least), so I'm kind of annoyed. lol Oh, well. Next year I will be slicing and dicing this plant into very small pieces!!! The reason I am growing this one in total shade is because I have most of my s/h plants growing in a windowsill. There is no direct sun and I don't have enough money to buy an extra light, but hopefully will be able to do so soon.

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Catasetum tenebrosum by Isurus79, on Flickr[/IMG]

Here's a pic of the whole plant.

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Catasetum tenebrosum by Isurus79, on Flickr[/IMG]

A pic of the super, ultra happy roots in their new home.

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Catasetum tenebrosum by Isurus79, on Flickr[/IMG]

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Catasetum tenebrosum by Isurus79, on Flickr[/IMG]

And 2 pictures of the amazing quantity of sap that is being extruded while this plant grows. In Hawaii I had this one growing outside and the ants would get the sap pretty quickly, but since I have no ants inside I get to see how much sap it actually produces! Yes, I have tried it and it is very sweet and delicious!!

[Lars Kurth]

I had the same experience. A C tenebrosum always getting female flowers: I got another one grown just beside the "female" plant which so far gets male flowers only. They never flowered at the same time though, and eventually I swapped the "female" plant for a saccatum.

[isurus79]

I think if this one keeps throwing female flowers after I chop it up next year, I will also trade it in for something else! lol

[Tindomul]

Chop it up??? Please explain.

Male or not, those flowers are awesome!!!!!
Remind/confrim. The male flowers are known from throwing their pollinia at the pollinator?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Chop it up??? Please explain.

Male or not, those flowers are awesome!!!!!
Remind/confrim. The male flowers are known from throwing their pollinia at the pollinator?

Hi Tindo,
Yes, the male flowers of most Catasetums will give their pollinator a good smack on the bottom with their pollinia! They don't throw their pollen, but rather the trigger mechanism is very highly strung. Scientists assume that the pollinator gets very scared and flies away and does not visit another Catasetum for a while, which allows the pollen to harden up and become more available to the next female flower the pollinator finds, most likely no where near the original.

As for chopping it up, a big fat happy plant with plenty of reserves is not as likely to throw male flowers as a smaller plant with fewer reserves. So I will chop it up to stress the plant into male flowers.

[Bruno De Toni]

Hi Steve, besides light also plants under a lot of stress produces female flowers, so yours still look fine but not totally healthy and strong. I would say that your plant is trying to survive propagating seeds into the forest. I had a lot of catasetums in very bad conditions blooming females flowers before passing away, keep an eye to your plant closely and change your culture media.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Bruno De Toni

Hi Steve, besides light also plants under a lot of stress produces female flowers, so yours still look fine but not totally healthy and strong. I would say that your plant is trying to survive propagating seeds into the forest. I had a lot of catasetums in very bad conditions blooming females flowers before passing away, keep an eye to your plant closely and change your culture media.

Good to know Bruno! I move to a new State and that may be the reason it is stressed. I also just potted it in s/h style media, so it could also be adapting to its new environment. I know some types of orchids end up dying if they get too big, do you think that could be happening here? I am going to chop it into smaller pieces after this growing season.

[fishmommy]

amazing! looks like a space alien LOL
I will need to look up what the male flower looks like thanks for sharing, even though you're hoping for something different

[Bruno De Toni]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Good to know Bruno! I move to a new State and that may be the reason it is stressed. I also just potted it in s/h style media, so it could also be adapting to its new environment. I know some types of orchids end up dying if they get too big, do you think that could be happening here? I am going to chop it into smaller pieces after this growing season.

Ok, so that could be the reason of the stress in your plant. Steve for catasetums is really important the pseudobulbs, the more they have the saver they are. I try to keep mines as big as they can stand in their pots, then I replate to a bigger pot and if they are too big, then I divide the plant in two. Looking yours I wouldnt chop it off, not at this moment, the new growth needs energy from all pseudobulbs to grow strong. What I really do change is the culture media, do it carefully without damaging the new roots. I will recover your plant using sphagnum moss and perlite as a medium.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Bruno De Toni

Ok, so that could be the reason of the stress in your plant. Steve for catasetums is really important the pseudobulbs, the more they have the saver they are. I try to keep mines as big as they can stand in their pots, then I replate to a bigger pot and if they are too big, then I divide the plant in two. Looking yours I wouldnt chop it off, not at this moment, the new growth needs energy from all pseudobulbs to grow strong. What I really do change is the culture media, do it carefully without damaging the new roots. I will recover your plant using sphagnum moss and perlite as a medium.

I think when it starts getting more light, it will be able to get more food to the bulbs. Right now its in total shade until I get some money for a light to go above it. Also, I won't divide the plant until about 9 months from now, when it goes dormant again and the bulbs get nice and fat again