Catasetum planiceps
Catasetum planiceps
Date: 08/13/09
Isn't this simply.... gorgeous!!?????
This is Catasetum planiceps. Planiceps comes from a combination of latin words meaning 'flat' and 'head', which seems appropriate. Normally this species produces several flowers at the end of a long upright spike. This is the first blooming on this specimen, and with a little more sun and humidity this plant will produce more in the future. The flowers do have a nice, fairly potent scent. It smells of licorice and menthol or something vaguely resinous. Looking inside the cupped lip reveals a series of very cool looking thin, darker green parallel stripes.
Easy growing, this plant seems to enjoy water and brightness. I am growing it in straight medium grade fir bark, though it is reported to be terrestrial at times, or rock dwelling, or tree dwelling. I guess it grows whereever it wants.
This is Catasetum planiceps. Planiceps comes from a combination of latin words meaning 'flat' and 'head', which seems appropriate. Normally this species produces several flowers at the end of a long upright spike. This is the first blooming on this specimen, and with a little more sun and humidity this plant will produce more in the future. The flowers do have a nice, fairly potent scent. It smells of licorice and menthol or something vaguely resinous. Looking inside the cupped lip reveals a series of very cool looking thin, darker green parallel stripes.
Easy growing, this plant seems to enjoy water and brightness. I am growing it in straight medium grade fir bark, though it is reported to be terrestrial at times, or rock dwelling, or tree dwelling. I guess it grows whereever it wants.
Catasetum boyi
Catasetum boyi, a small plant with big spray
Date: 05/13/08
This little plant puts on a big show, with about a dozen flowers coming off a 3" pseudobulb. The flowers are about 2-1/2 inches across, and have no discernable fragrance at all. The sepals remain in the position as shown in the photo; they do not reflex to make the flowers look like 'birds in flight' Coloring is complex, of a dark reddish brown in the sepals and petals, with numerous small bars and spots over lighter areas. The small cup-like lip is a creamy white, and the toothed side lobes are marked with a reddish color. They seem to last longer than those of many other Catasetums. This plant grows wild in the Brazilian Amazon. I grow it about like Ctsm. saccatum, with a fair amount of sun and even moisture. It is growing in a 2-1/2" pot in a mix of bark and long-fibred sphagnum moss.
Mormodes warscewiczii
Mormodes warscewiczii -- a goblin orchid with stripes
Date: 04/11/08
This Mormodes is supposed to be easier to grow than many. The plant in the photograph is a new addition to my collection, and is shown blooming with two spikes and 3 flowers for a first blooming on a very young plant having a single pseudobulb of only 1-1/2 inches in height. This is very small to be blooming at all!
The flower's sepals and petals are a kind of brown/yellow with darker stripes, while the lip is a light green with darker green stripes. The color combination is quite attractive and interesting. Flowers last a long time on this Mormodes. The fragrance is interesting. The scent is reminiscent of some kind of spice, but when I suggest to my friends that the fragrance is that of McDonald's hamburgers, they tend to agree. Ah... the power of suggestion!
I grow this one like all my other Mormodes, which means plenty of even moisture. This plant is growing well in straight long-fibered New Zealand sphagnum moss. I plan to keep it in this medium, as it tends to be easier to judge the need for watering. If it is just moist to the touch and signals that it will be dry the following day, give it a watering. That's about it.
The flower's sepals and petals are a kind of brown/yellow with darker stripes, while the lip is a light green with darker green stripes. The color combination is quite attractive and interesting. Flowers last a long time on this Mormodes. The fragrance is interesting. The scent is reminiscent of some kind of spice, but when I suggest to my friends that the fragrance is that of McDonald's hamburgers, they tend to agree. Ah... the power of suggestion!
I grow this one like all my other Mormodes, which means plenty of even moisture. This plant is growing well in straight long-fibered New Zealand sphagnum moss. I plan to keep it in this medium, as it tends to be easier to judge the need for watering. If it is just moist to the touch and signals that it will be dry the following day, give it a watering. That's about it.
Cycnoches pentadactylon 'Galaxy' 4n
Cycnoches pentadactylon 'Galaxy,' the tetraploid mutant form
Date: 04/11/08
Cycnoches pentadactylon 'Galaxy' 4n originated in the market from Jumbo Orchids in Taiwan. This one is a tetraploid mutant form from their clone stock, and it expresses the polyploidy by having larger, though otherwise similar flowers to the normal form.
I found it hard to get a good photo on this blooming due to the arrangement and number of flowers, plus the lighting conditions. The flowers are a light greenish to creamy white hue with purplish blotches in all parts.
The remarkable feature of these flowers is their fragrance, which is a potent and very delicious rich vanilla-like scent. The fragrance is rather different than the camphorous scent of the warscewiczii/lehmanii/chlorochilon branch of this genus.
My plant is still small. I am looking forward to seeing what this interesting plant can do.
I found it hard to get a good photo on this blooming due to the arrangement and number of flowers, plus the lighting conditions. The flowers are a light greenish to creamy white hue with purplish blotches in all parts.
The remarkable feature of these flowers is their fragrance, which is a potent and very delicious rich vanilla-like scent. The fragrance is rather different than the camphorous scent of the warscewiczii/lehmanii/chlorochilon branch of this genus.
My plant is still small. I am looking forward to seeing what this interesting plant can do.
Catasetum pileatum 'Oro Verde' BM/JOGA
Catasetum pileatum 'Oro Verde' -- a big green and yellow beauty
Date: 03/25/07
Catasetum pileatum 'Oro Verde' BM/JOGA has a lighter green color than 'Jumbo Green Gold,' and has quite a different personality than that clone because of its central yellow patch in the lip. The flowers on 'Oro Verde' are also larger than 'Jumbo Green Gold,' and perhaps a little more flat. The overall effect is striking and quite beautiful.
Easily grown, loving moisture and moderately bright light such as for Cattleya orchids, this is a very rewarding plant. This flower is from the second flush of the season, and you will find that this Catasetum species enjoys giving multiple flowerings or multiple spikes or both, given good conditions. Feed them well; I find that this species is one of the more moisture loving and more rapid growers in the group. Mine tend to put up their growths extrememly rapidly, blooming with the young growth or later at odd times. After the growth matures, they may sit without growing for quite a while, but holding a full head of leaves. They often start to grow soon after droppiing their leaves. As usual, when they do drop the leaves, dispense with all watering or risk losing the plant. During periods of relative innactivity but while still in leaf, continue to water, but only as needed, letting the medium in the pot dry fairly well. I look for the slightest signs of bulb wrinkling to water.
Problems? As noted elsewhere on this site, spider mites must be attended to quickly.
Potting methods? This plant is currently in straight sphagnum moss in a plastic pot. I prefer some bark mixed in. I am moving more plants over into straight bark mixed with some sponge rock, and for some of the moisture lovers a little sphagnum mixed in. Clay is good for a pot too, though I put pileatum in plastic just so I don't have to be watering them as frequently. Anything works for the potting mix. People have been swearing by moss, but I get just as good or better results with bark, and I can repot every other year and not worry about salt build up as much, nor the sudden deterioration that moss can show.
Easily grown, loving moisture and moderately bright light such as for Cattleya orchids, this is a very rewarding plant. This flower is from the second flush of the season, and you will find that this Catasetum species enjoys giving multiple flowerings or multiple spikes or both, given good conditions. Feed them well; I find that this species is one of the more moisture loving and more rapid growers in the group. Mine tend to put up their growths extrememly rapidly, blooming with the young growth or later at odd times. After the growth matures, they may sit without growing for quite a while, but holding a full head of leaves. They often start to grow soon after droppiing their leaves. As usual, when they do drop the leaves, dispense with all watering or risk losing the plant. During periods of relative innactivity but while still in leaf, continue to water, but only as needed, letting the medium in the pot dry fairly well. I look for the slightest signs of bulb wrinkling to water.
Problems? As noted elsewhere on this site, spider mites must be attended to quickly.
Potting methods? This plant is currently in straight sphagnum moss in a plastic pot. I prefer some bark mixed in. I am moving more plants over into straight bark mixed with some sponge rock, and for some of the moisture lovers a little sphagnum mixed in. Clay is good for a pot too, though I put pileatum in plastic just so I don't have to be watering them as frequently. Anything works for the potting mix. People have been swearing by moss, but I get just as good or better results with bark, and I can repot every other year and not worry about salt build up as much, nor the sudden deterioration that moss can show.
Cycnoches herrenhusanum ('SVO' x 'Cindy Hill')
Cycnoches herrenhusanum, a yellow charm.
Date: 01/03/07
This cycnoches is one of the more recently discovered species, and is being used in hybridizing in order to impart floriferus sprays, yellow color, good form, and small plant stature.
The flowers on this plant, which bloomed in late December 2006 on its first blooming, measure 2 inches across. This young plant was only 3-1/2 inches tall when I took this photo. When the plant matures, I expect lots of flowers on long sprays. One of the neat things about this species is the beautifully symmetrical arrangement of the flowers around the raceme, with the flowers neatly facing four directions. The flowers also sport a very interesting palmate lip, with 'fingers' projecting around the central disc. This clone has good yellow coloring; some of these plants make flowers with more green in the shading. Fragrance is almost imperceptible, contrary to some descriptions of the species I have found on the net and in the literature.
This clone has larger, flatter flowers than the well-known clone 'Golden Ring.' Fred Clarke bred the pictured plant from his 'Sunset Valley Orchids' selection and one called 'Cindy Hill.' Thanks, Fred!
Culture is pretty standard for this species-- even moisture, warmth, and good light and a regular source of nitrogen. The plants form medium height, slender bulbs compared to species such as chlorochilon and warscewiczii. Leaves are graceful and long, medium green. As for potting, use small pots and something well-draining as a medium. Straight New Zealand sphagnum works fine, but repot yearly and watch for salt buildup. I like to mix sphagnum with bark and rocks (diatomite), charcoal, etc., to help open up the mix a bit. In late summer and autumn, when the growth has plumped out and no further pseudobuld development is evident, cut back strongly on the watering, letting the mix dry between waterings. This will help prevent bulb rots. Step up the water when spikes form, then drop back again when the flowers are gone. As the leaves yellow, cut back further and further, and then cease watering completely when all the leaves have fallen. I only very rarely if ever water during dormancy. The plants never seem to need it anyway, and some shriveling of the bulbs does no harm and may even be normal for these plants. Pests? Yes. Watch for the ubiquitous red spider and other types of spider mites. In some years these can be a nuisance, whereas at other times they can be very manageable. Just remember that your plants WILL get them at some point, and you need to take care of them immediately. IMMEDIATELY!
The flowers on this plant, which bloomed in late December 2006 on its first blooming, measure 2 inches across. This young plant was only 3-1/2 inches tall when I took this photo. When the plant matures, I expect lots of flowers on long sprays. One of the neat things about this species is the beautifully symmetrical arrangement of the flowers around the raceme, with the flowers neatly facing four directions. The flowers also sport a very interesting palmate lip, with 'fingers' projecting around the central disc. This clone has good yellow coloring; some of these plants make flowers with more green in the shading. Fragrance is almost imperceptible, contrary to some descriptions of the species I have found on the net and in the literature.
This clone has larger, flatter flowers than the well-known clone 'Golden Ring.' Fred Clarke bred the pictured plant from his 'Sunset Valley Orchids' selection and one called 'Cindy Hill.' Thanks, Fred!
Culture is pretty standard for this species-- even moisture, warmth, and good light and a regular source of nitrogen. The plants form medium height, slender bulbs compared to species such as chlorochilon and warscewiczii. Leaves are graceful and long, medium green. As for potting, use small pots and something well-draining as a medium. Straight New Zealand sphagnum works fine, but repot yearly and watch for salt buildup. I like to mix sphagnum with bark and rocks (diatomite), charcoal, etc., to help open up the mix a bit. In late summer and autumn, when the growth has plumped out and no further pseudobuld development is evident, cut back strongly on the watering, letting the mix dry between waterings. This will help prevent bulb rots. Step up the water when spikes form, then drop back again when the flowers are gone. As the leaves yellow, cut back further and further, and then cease watering completely when all the leaves have fallen. I only very rarely if ever water during dormancy. The plants never seem to need it anyway, and some shriveling of the bulbs does no harm and may even be normal for these plants. Pests? Yes. Watch for the ubiquitous red spider and other types of spider mites. In some years these can be a nuisance, whereas at other times they can be very manageable. Just remember that your plants WILL get them at some point, and you need to take care of them immediately. IMMEDIATELY!
Cycnoches warscewiczii 'Mt. View'
Cycnoches warscewiczii 'Mt. View' is a mericlone green swan.
Date: 01/04/07
Not only is this plant vigorous and easy going, the flowers are very big and rounded. I would say that 'Mt. View' is a better clone than Norman Fang's 'Norman' clone, offered by Orchids.com. As usual, the fragrance on this species is fantastic. This plant never fails to create amazed visitors.
This plant, of which I have three individuals of this clone, bloomed around Christmas through the first week of January this year (2006-2007). I think it bloomed a little earlier last year... I can't remember. It is not unusual for this species to bloom again later in the season, when all the leaves have fallen. Usually they don't produce as many flowers at this time, but it's always nice to have these in bloom.
These plants can really get quite large. Even so, mine are in four inch pots. This species is easy to grow using the usual treatment for plants of this group.
Flowers run about 6 inches across, and about 12 to a spike in this clone.
This plant, of which I have three individuals of this clone, bloomed around Christmas through the first week of January this year (2006-2007). I think it bloomed a little earlier last year... I can't remember. It is not unusual for this species to bloom again later in the season, when all the leaves have fallen. Usually they don't produce as many flowers at this time, but it's always nice to have these in bloom.
These plants can really get quite large. Even so, mine are in four inch pots. This species is easy to grow using the usual treatment for plants of this group.
Flowers run about 6 inches across, and about 12 to a spike in this clone.
Cycnodes Jumbo Diamond
(Cyc. warscewiczii x Cycnodes Jumbo Micky)
Date: 11/14/06
This second generation Cycnodes is a whopper. Big 4 inch flowers that last 3-1/2 weeks or more produce long sprays with a dozen or more flowers that arrange themselves really well on the spike. But best of all is the fragrance, which is simply intoxicating. This plant perfumed the entire top floor of my home with a sweet fragrance reminiscent of a lady's perfumed bath powder.
Grow this plant and others of this breeding much like Cycnoches. Good light, even moisture, good humidity and fresh air, and lots of nurishment will bring results. As usual, dry it off after flowering and then no water at all during its leafless period.
Jumbo Orchids of Taiwan originated this cross. Expect to see more from them, as they seem quite dedicated to breeding in the Catasetinae group.
Grow this plant and others of this breeding much like Cycnoches. Good light, even moisture, good humidity and fresh air, and lots of nurishment will bring results. As usual, dry it off after flowering and then no water at all during its leafless period.
Jumbo Orchids of Taiwan originated this cross. Expect to see more from them, as they seem quite dedicated to breeding in the Catasetinae group.
Cycnoches cooperi (dark form)
Cycnoches cooperi is a relative newbie, discovered only a few decades ago.
Date: 10/14/06
Cycnoches cooperi is one of my all-time favorites. The flowers come in various shades. The plants tend to put out gobs of flowers. The scent is fascinating. The species is fairly rare. I remember when it first appeared in the trade it tended to be very high priced, and I had to wait until it was more in my price range. In recent years more people are propagating it and prices have moderated greatly, and it is generally more available, even on eBay. I have 4 or 5 of them, in different colors. This one is a saturated dark wine red/bronze, and appears almost black. Only when you place it in very bright light does its inner reddish purple show. Very impressive! The fragrance on these varies from plant to plant it seems. This one has a kind of musty sweet fragrance, a blit like moldering Welches Grape Juice. What I found impressive about this particular individual is that this season it put out a quite floriferous spray on just a 5 inch pseudobulb. This species, however, can grow to very hefty proportions-- up to about 2 feet tall I would say. And under those conditions this species can put out dozens of flowers. What more could one ask for?
My recommendation on growing this species is that you need to give it lots of atmospheric humidity, and be extremely careful watering as it approaches dormancy. Let it dry well between waterings, then when it drops its leaves, do not give it water until the new growth is well along and vigorous. This specimen is growing in pure medium grade Aliflor, a sort of round gravel of fired 'volcanic' clay. It is in a clear plastic pot with a single drain hole about one inch up the side of the pot. This tends to treat the watering as semi-hydroponic, and a little water remains in the base of the pot. I plan to leave it for more than one year in this material. It seems to like this treatment.
My recommendation on growing this species is that you need to give it lots of atmospheric humidity, and be extremely careful watering as it approaches dormancy. Let it dry well between waterings, then when it drops its leaves, do not give it water until the new growth is well along and vigorous. This specimen is growing in pure medium grade Aliflor, a sort of round gravel of fired 'volcanic' clay. It is in a clear plastic pot with a single drain hole about one inch up the side of the pot. This tends to treat the watering as semi-hydroponic, and a little water remains in the base of the pot. I plan to leave it for more than one year in this material. It seems to like this treatment.
Catasetum rolfeanum
Catasetum rolfeanum, a lesser known Brazilian species
Date: 10/14/06
This plant, from warm parts of Brazil, puts out attractive upright sprays of medium sized flowers from a young growth. It has a pleasant, mild but distinctive fragrance, somewhat spicy.
I've read that this plant is relatively rare, and desirable. I like it. The flowers have a curious appearance, and look like some kind of fanciful flying creature or bird.
It treat this like most any other warm loving Catasetum. Light, even moisture, and regular feeding seems to do the trick. The plant appears to be a compact one, with bulbs about 5 or 6 inches high. Leaves tend to be narrow and medium green. It is not commonly seen in catalogs. I got mine from Antonio Schmidt, a South American commercial grower, relayed to be by a friend who picked it up from Schmidt at a Florida orchid show and sale.
I've read that this plant is relatively rare, and desirable. I like it. The flowers have a curious appearance, and look like some kind of fanciful flying creature or bird.
It treat this like most any other warm loving Catasetum. Light, even moisture, and regular feeding seems to do the trick. The plant appears to be a compact one, with bulbs about 5 or 6 inches high. Leaves tend to be narrow and medium green. It is not commonly seen in catalogs. I got mine from Antonio Schmidt, a South American commercial grower, relayed to be by a friend who picked it up from Schmidt at a Florida orchid show and sale.
Clowesetum JEM's Fallen Angel
Fragrance
Date: 08/21/06
This plant is a cross of Catasetum schmidtianum and Clowesia russeliana. The flowers are good size and present themselves very well down a long cascading spike. This photo is from the first blooming in August, 2006, when it produced 10 flowers. Each flower is about 3 inches wide, with dark red spotting over a medium green background. Given the Clowesia parent, it is no surprise that the hybrid has no trigger hairs. Presumably this helps the flowers last longer.
I like this one. The plant is incredibly vigorous. It also seems to love watering. I water it at least once every other day, and it is growing in a 4 inch clay pot in a 50/50 mix of sphagnum and medium fir bark.
I like this one. The plant is incredibly vigorous. It also seems to love watering. I water it at least once every other day, and it is growing in a 4 inch clay pot in a 50/50 mix of sphagnum and medium fir bark.
Cycnoches haagii
Cycnoches haagii
Date: 07/23/06
Cycnoches haagii is one of the swan orchids that is native to hot tropical lowlands of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Evidently it is scarce, in the horticultural trade at least, and one commercial grower reported that he had only seen it appear in the market twice in 30 years. Again, I was lucky to find a single seedling auctioned on eBay in 2005 and bought it for a song.
This photo is the first blooming on July 19, 2006. It produced four 2-inch flowers on a 5 inch pseudobulb. It should soon get to be about three times that size, and produce many-flowered scapes.
I grow this one just like my other Cycnoches, in bright light and warm temperatures. It seems to be an easy, vigorous grower, producing plump pseudobulbs, modest foliage with rapidity early in the season. Plant them in small pots and don't overwater. Mine has been growing in my home in typical 27% humidity, which is a crime but these plants seem to do ok in terms of general health, though I think they do not mature as quickly in such dryness. 60% is probably about right for them... maybe even more during the growing season. Dry things when they are leafless. In fact, I did not give my plant a single drop of water for about 3 months while it sat dormant in its pot.
Good luck if you can find one of these!
This photo is the first blooming on July 19, 2006. It produced four 2-inch flowers on a 5 inch pseudobulb. It should soon get to be about three times that size, and produce many-flowered scapes.
I grow this one just like my other Cycnoches, in bright light and warm temperatures. It seems to be an easy, vigorous grower, producing plump pseudobulbs, modest foliage with rapidity early in the season. Plant them in small pots and don't overwater. Mine has been growing in my home in typical 27% humidity, which is a crime but these plants seem to do ok in terms of general health, though I think they do not mature as quickly in such dryness. 60% is probably about right for them... maybe even more during the growing season. Dry things when they are leafless. In fact, I did not give my plant a single drop of water for about 3 months while it sat dormant in its pot.
Good luck if you can find one of these!
Mormodes colossa
The goblin orchid has an interesting scent.
Date: 06/11/06
This is the first bloom on a back-bulb division that had put up a small 2" growth from which came this two-flowered spike. Not bad for a small fry! But ordinarily you can expect a many-flowered scape from Mormodes colossa.
Now, I really can't say for sure if this is Mormodes colossa. I bought it under the label 'powellii,' but that is evidently synonymous with colossa (colossus). I have a hard time generally knowing how to identify Mormodes, mostly because they seem very variable within each species. If any knowledgeable Mormodes fanciers out there are able to enlighten me a bit, I'd appreciate it.
In any case, these flowers have a nice scent. My wife thinks they smell like moth balls, but I find them more like moth balls mixed with root beer and nutmeg, with a little extra spicyness to it.
This plant seems also to enjoy lots of water. I have it growing in straight long-fiber sphagnum and in a small clay pot. My Mormodes languished when I grew them in plain medium fir bark. Even though you can water plenty in bark, the roots of Mormodes seem to like a more evenly moist (not WET!!!) root zone. I expect they also demand more humidity than I can afford them. I'm still experimenting with night-time warmth, as there seems to be some difference of opinion. Some people claim they need really warm temps, but some people (Jack Kramer for one) note that they respond better under cooler night temperatures. We shall see...
Concerning the tendency to rot in this genus, I can only report that I have not had extraordinarily bad problems here. The only rotted plant was a small seedling recently that rotted at the end of its dormant period. It had been completely untouched by water of any sort for about 2 months. However, some years ago I had a Mormodes that rotted away completely in just one night, because my humidifier didn't shut down and the resulting condesation caused drips off the roof, and the poor Mormodes was right under a drip point. I was surprised how quickly it perished. Be careful!
Now, I really can't say for sure if this is Mormodes colossa. I bought it under the label 'powellii,' but that is evidently synonymous with colossa (colossus). I have a hard time generally knowing how to identify Mormodes, mostly because they seem very variable within each species. If any knowledgeable Mormodes fanciers out there are able to enlighten me a bit, I'd appreciate it.
In any case, these flowers have a nice scent. My wife thinks they smell like moth balls, but I find them more like moth balls mixed with root beer and nutmeg, with a little extra spicyness to it.
This plant seems also to enjoy lots of water. I have it growing in straight long-fiber sphagnum and in a small clay pot. My Mormodes languished when I grew them in plain medium fir bark. Even though you can water plenty in bark, the roots of Mormodes seem to like a more evenly moist (not WET!!!) root zone. I expect they also demand more humidity than I can afford them. I'm still experimenting with night-time warmth, as there seems to be some difference of opinion. Some people claim they need really warm temps, but some people (Jack Kramer for one) note that they respond better under cooler night temperatures. We shall see...
Concerning the tendency to rot in this genus, I can only report that I have not had extraordinarily bad problems here. The only rotted plant was a small seedling recently that rotted at the end of its dormant period. It had been completely untouched by water of any sort for about 2 months. However, some years ago I had a Mormodes that rotted away completely in just one night, because my humidifier didn't shut down and the resulting condesation caused drips off the roof, and the poor Mormodes was right under a drip point. I was surprised how quickly it perished. Be careful!
Catasetum pileatum
(aureum)
Date: 11/19/05
This species is one of my all time favorites. Up until about the 1930s is was the national flower of Venezuela, It is easy to grow.
This particular clone came from a seedling of a crossing of variety 'aureum' from Jones and Scully. It had much yellow in the lip, and had very good conformation. I have grown many colors of pileatum, including a gorgeous geen clone from a meristem (unknown clone), a pure white (unknown meristem clone from McLellan's Orchids), and others. None of them gave me any problems, and were great doers.
I might comment on culture here. I grew these plants in a greenhouse in general 'Cattleya' conditions. My heater was underpowered, however, and typically I had to let the greenhouse go to an average of 55 F. at night in winter. It often got close to freezing when we had freak weather. None of these conditions harmed the catasetinae orchids in any way. They would be dormant anyway. One night when we had -20 F I lost a couple of plants to freezing, including a wonderful Brassia, but the Catasetums were unphased. Go figure. These plants are like cactus. You can only kill them by overwatering. Keep reading.
I currently have 3 different pileatums and plan on acquiring more, to form a varied collection of the species. As of May 2005 I am still waiting for a young plant of Antonio Schmidt's breeding to bloom (imperiale x pileatum 'Oro Verde'). He wrote me saying that these have turned out in just about every color possible, including green, white, and imperiale reds. Stay tuned to these pages!
This particular clone came from a seedling of a crossing of variety 'aureum' from Jones and Scully. It had much yellow in the lip, and had very good conformation. I have grown many colors of pileatum, including a gorgeous geen clone from a meristem (unknown clone), a pure white (unknown meristem clone from McLellan's Orchids), and others. None of them gave me any problems, and were great doers.
I might comment on culture here. I grew these plants in a greenhouse in general 'Cattleya' conditions. My heater was underpowered, however, and typically I had to let the greenhouse go to an average of 55 F. at night in winter. It often got close to freezing when we had freak weather. None of these conditions harmed the catasetinae orchids in any way. They would be dormant anyway. One night when we had -20 F I lost a couple of plants to freezing, including a wonderful Brassia, but the Catasetums were unphased. Go figure. These plants are like cactus. You can only kill them by overwatering. Keep reading.
I currently have 3 different pileatums and plan on acquiring more, to form a varied collection of the species. As of May 2005 I am still waiting for a young plant of Antonio Schmidt's breeding to bloom (imperiale x pileatum 'Oro Verde'). He wrote me saying that these have turned out in just about every color possible, including green, white, and imperiale reds. Stay tuned to these pages!
Catasetum pileatum 'Green Gold'
'Jumbo Green Gold?'
Date: 11/20/05
This photo was taken in November 2005. This species comes in various colors, and the green form is one of my favorites. Well, I love them all as soon as I see them, but the green ones can be very cooling and refreshing to look at on a hot day.
This clone came labeled 'Jumbo Green Gold' from a supplier other than Jumbo Orchids, who originated this plant. However, after inquiring directly with Jumbo Orchids in Taiwan, they sent me a photo of a flower that was identical to this one, but labeled simply 'Green Gold.' My hypothesis is that one of Jumbo's customers bought a block of this plant and labeled them with the added 'Jumbo,' perhaps to identify the source and to distinguish it from another very well-known clone known as 'Oro Verde' (which means 'Green Gold' in Spanish) that is popular in Latin America and with collectors around the world. So, I have labeled my plant back to 'Green Gold.' If anybody knows for sure if there is a distinction between 'Jumbo Green Gold' and the 'Green Gold' from Jumbo, let me know (dickow@uidaho.edu).
Good luck finding this plant. I haven't seen any of them listed in catalogs; I got it on eBay!!!!!
This clone came labeled 'Jumbo Green Gold' from a supplier other than Jumbo Orchids, who originated this plant. However, after inquiring directly with Jumbo Orchids in Taiwan, they sent me a photo of a flower that was identical to this one, but labeled simply 'Green Gold.' My hypothesis is that one of Jumbo's customers bought a block of this plant and labeled them with the added 'Jumbo,' perhaps to identify the source and to distinguish it from another very well-known clone known as 'Oro Verde' (which means 'Green Gold' in Spanish) that is popular in Latin America and with collectors around the world. So, I have labeled my plant back to 'Green Gold.' If anybody knows for sure if there is a distinction between 'Jumbo Green Gold' and the 'Green Gold' from Jumbo, let me know (dickow@uidaho.edu).
Good luck finding this plant. I haven't seen any of them listed in catalogs; I got it on eBay!!!!!
Cycnoches Robert Dickow
(Cyc warscewiczii x haagii)
Date: 11/20/05
This hybrid carries my name! You can still probably get some of these plants from Sunset Valley Orchids. This hybrid combines the large-flowered warscewiczii with the smaller-flowered but more prolific haagii, resulting in medium to large (4 inch) medium green flowers with small rust spots in all the segments. The pearly white lip has the 'pincers' crest from haagii. The flowers are very fragrant, especially during the day. The cross gives typical green swan orchid flowers, but they are interesting and offer the possibility of producting large, showy specimens with lots of flowers. They are quite easy to grow, and are vigorous, spunky plants.
Give them good drainage but plenty of water during the growing season, as usual. They appreciate good light, warmth, and humidity. Of course, mine are growing in very dry air without apparent problems. Watch for mites.
There was a hybrid of chlorochilon x haagii some years ago known as Cyc. Cygnet. Since the species were quite confused it is possible that warscewiczii was the actual parent used in that cross. Since the clarification of the genus, the registration authority allowed re-registrations for chlorochilon and warscewiczii crosses, to try to straighten things out I suppose.
Give them good drainage but plenty of water during the growing season, as usual. They appreciate good light, warmth, and humidity. Of course, mine are growing in very dry air without apparent problems. Watch for mites.
There was a hybrid of chlorochilon x haagii some years ago known as Cyc. Cygnet. Since the species were quite confused it is possible that warscewiczii was the actual parent used in that cross. Since the clarification of the genus, the registration authority allowed re-registrations for chlorochilon and warscewiczii crosses, to try to straighten things out I suppose.
Catasetum Ten Dragons
(Ctsm Dragon's Teeth x tenebrosum)
(click here to see the whole spray) Date: 12/25/05 Ok! This baby came from Sunset Valley Orchids. I phoned in the order, and was greeted by Mrs. Fred Clarke on the phone, with the sound of dogs barking and screen doors creaking in the background. The flowers on this clone are a bit like tenebrosum, but they are a good 3 inches across and display on a pendent spike rather than an upright-to-arching spike as on tenebrosum. This baby guzzles water like I wouldn't believe. I recently moved it to a 6 inch pot and it still NEEDS water ever 2-3 days. Glug, glug, glug. The first blooming was on a growth-in-progress, in early summer. The recent new growth now in June 2004 is showing a 3" spike, and is elongating rapidly.
There is no second guessing these Catasetums. The year (2004) they all refused to drop their leaves!! I've never seen this. Global warming.... or what?
Year 2005 is a nice blooming, though I broke off some of the little buds. Nevertheless, if you view the 'spray' view picture, you can see the overall effect, which is quite exotic given the dark brown or reddish bronze coloring. This is a nice, dependable plant.
(click here to see the whole spray)
(click here to see the whole spray) Date: 12/25/05 Ok! This baby came from Sunset Valley Orchids. I phoned in the order, and was greeted by Mrs. Fred Clarke on the phone, with the sound of dogs barking and screen doors creaking in the background. The flowers on this clone are a bit like tenebrosum, but they are a good 3 inches across and display on a pendent spike rather than an upright-to-arching spike as on tenebrosum. This baby guzzles water like I wouldn't believe. I recently moved it to a 6 inch pot and it still NEEDS water ever 2-3 days. Glug, glug, glug. The first blooming was on a growth-in-progress, in early summer. The recent new growth now in June 2004 is showing a 3" spike, and is elongating rapidly.
There is no second guessing these Catasetums. The year (2004) they all refused to drop their leaves!! I've never seen this. Global warming.... or what?
Year 2005 is a nice blooming, though I broke off some of the little buds. Nevertheless, if you view the 'spray' view picture, you can see the overall effect, which is quite exotic given the dark brown or reddish bronze coloring. This is a nice, dependable plant.
(click here to see the whole spray)
Catasetum saccatum
Brazil
Date: 11/19/05
This species comes from a broad area including the Amazon basin in Brazil and some outlying regions. It comes from hot, humid areas and likes bright light. The plant I show in the photo is at this time (June 2005 when photographed) fairly small, with pseudobulbs about 5 inches tall, curved and tapered, topped with a group of fairly narrow leaves. It grows easily and quickly. I read that it can get 30 flowers on a spray, but my young plant gave me 7 flowers. The spray rises vertically, then arcs over such that the flowers present on a pendent raceme. The flowers are about 4 inches across, and have an interesting, spider-like appearance. Fragrance is a pleasant, resinous scent.
I am growing my plant in a 4-inch plastic pot in a mix of about 40% New Zealand sphagnum moss and medium grade fir bark. I water quite a bit, keeping it evenly moist, and feed regularly as with all Catasetums. I grow as bright as I can, but it does not seem to be fussy, and bloomed without provocation.
There are some other Catasetums that may be labeled saccatum that are now recognized as separate species. These include Ctsm. osculatum, chrystianum, and incurvum. The photo I show is the type form for the currently recognized Catasetum saccatum.
I'd recommend this species for its compact growth, ease of culture, and fascinating flowers.
I am growing my plant in a 4-inch plastic pot in a mix of about 40% New Zealand sphagnum moss and medium grade fir bark. I water quite a bit, keeping it evenly moist, and feed regularly as with all Catasetums. I grow as bright as I can, but it does not seem to be fussy, and bloomed without provocation.
There are some other Catasetums that may be labeled saccatum that are now recognized as separate species. These include Ctsm. osculatum, chrystianum, and incurvum. The photo I show is the type form for the currently recognized Catasetum saccatum.
I'd recommend this species for its compact growth, ease of culture, and fascinating flowers.
Cycnoches cooperi
Date: 11/19/05
I have to admit that I have a weakness for this species. This plant came from JEM and it is a big Cycnoches. The flowers are stunning, and this photo doesn't accurately convey the beauty of the flowers. (Blame this on the flash photography). The fragrance is fascinating. This plant probably really will only do best in a greenhouse. I'm going to try it in my home anyway.
This plant unfortunately rotted from the base during dormancy this winter, even when completely dry. This is one of the exasperating things about Cycnoches. I think that a brigher, more airy greenhouse would have helped. However, I saved a keiki from the plant, which is now putting up a healthy new growth. I took the healthy, unrotted top part of the pseudobulbs from the main plant and chopped it up into sections. These sections are sitting on the windowsill, and I hope they sprout some new babies too, so I may end up with several plants where I only started with one. Signs are good, as many nodes have plump buds ready to....burst?
Theory: Cycnoches rots are due to pathogens in our north American water supply. This is purely hypothetical, and I hope to try to research this idea more scientifically one day in the future.
This plant unfortunately rotted from the base during dormancy this winter, even when completely dry. This is one of the exasperating things about Cycnoches. I think that a brigher, more airy greenhouse would have helped. However, I saved a keiki from the plant, which is now putting up a healthy new growth. I took the healthy, unrotted top part of the pseudobulbs from the main plant and chopped it up into sections. These sections are sitting on the windowsill, and I hope they sprout some new babies too, so I may end up with several plants where I only started with one. Signs are good, as many nodes have plump buds ready to....burst?
Theory: Cycnoches rots are due to pathogens in our north American water supply. This is purely hypothetical, and I hope to try to research this idea more scientifically one day in the future.
Cycnoches loddigesii
Date: 11/20/05
This plant seems to be a pretty easy grower. I grow it in fairly bright conditions. My plant is now about 10 inches tall, and it now (Nov 20, 2005) has 2 buds developing. When I acquired the plant it was only about 3 inches tall, but produced flowers (just one at a time) anyway. However, I know it can produce bigger bulbs with several flowers, so I'll keep plugging away at it.
This flower is very very strange and alien looking, which is why I like it. The flowers are very big in relation to the plant. They last a long time, and have a very interesting, attractive, and powerful fragrance that is impossible to describe.
I got this plant bare root from Tom Katschak, who got it from Brazil as an import. It was just a little thing to begin with, but showed consistent spiking on the previous (jungle?) growths. I suspect that this species can bloom on quite small bulbs, and that plants can come in large or small sizes. I recently bought another plant of this species from Bergstroms, and indeed it seems a little more vigorous and robust. Perhaps there is variability in this species in regard to plant characteristics.
This plant is really bizarre looking, and if you like that sort of thing, it is highly recommmended. It is supremely beautiful, fragrant, exotic, and long lasting.
This flower is very very strange and alien looking, which is why I like it. The flowers are very big in relation to the plant. They last a long time, and have a very interesting, attractive, and powerful fragrance that is impossible to describe.
I got this plant bare root from Tom Katschak, who got it from Brazil as an import. It was just a little thing to begin with, but showed consistent spiking on the previous (jungle?) growths. I suspect that this species can bloom on quite small bulbs, and that plants can come in large or small sizes. I recently bought another plant of this species from Bergstroms, and indeed it seems a little more vigorous and robust. Perhaps there is variability in this species in regard to plant characteristics.
This plant is really bizarre looking, and if you like that sort of thing, it is highly recommmended. It is supremely beautiful, fragrant, exotic, and long lasting.
Cycnoches warscewiczii
Green Swan Orchid
Date: 11/19/05
Ok, you thought this was Cycnoches chlorochilon!? Wrong. Chlorochilon is a different species, and, since I grow it too, I'll put a picture up when I get one. Chlorochilon has similar flowers, fewer on the spray, and the flowers have more up-swept petals, and a more elongated form. The plant is typically smaller than warscewiczii.
This is the famous 'Green Swan' orchid. Easy to grow, as long as you don't rot the darn thing! I have 3 of them now, and have grown them very well in the past. They can get very very big!! I have produced 14 or more flowers on a single spray. The fragrance is spectacular...a sort of mix of camphor and vanilla, but this isn't quite right either. A powerful scent...it seems to get stuck in your nose and follow you around for some time after leaving the presence of the plant. It is also true that this plant, if put it your living room while in bloom, will scent the entire space. It is truly astounding!
As for rotting, I have only rotted one of them to death. My first plant, from Alberts and Merkel many years ago. It arrived as an beautiful full grown plant, growing in fern root. I carefully put it on the shelf and kept it under observation. Finally, I watered it carefully. The next day it was a pile of black mush, rotten from the base. Go figure.
But I'd say these are very easy orchids. One of the plants I have was ordered this year from Norman's orchids. It was completely leafless when it arrived, but had been watered before shipment. Soon rot set in, high up on the new bulb. I had to surgically remove much of the tissue. The plant is fine now, but if I had not cut out a major chunk of the plant, it would certainly be dead today. If such a rot starts from the base, you can often kiss the plant goodbye.
So, what's the trick? My recommendation is that you never be tempted to water during dormancy (when the leaves fall off), and when it does start growth in the spring, wait until good roots are formed and that the leaf fan starts expanding. Never mind if the bulbs whither... that's their nature. Just don't be tempted to water too early. They can die overnight!!
Some people have recommended watering during dormancy to prevent shriveling. Nah!! Forget it. Let them shrivel. I have never known them to die from shriveling. They mey look fairly shriveled, but become shriveled very graduallly. Then, they put out new growth. When I water them for the first time in spring, they typically plump back up in about 1 or 2 days!!! Then they're off and running. I have maintained Cycnoches for years using this treatment. If they do rot off on me, it is within a day or two of reciept of a new order, when they are getting adjusted or under stress of environment change, and then when they do rot, it is often when I have not even watered them once for the first time in my possession!!! I get them.... they rot immediately. Or, I get them... they live forever. In other words, once they become accustomed to my conditions, and settle in, they becove very stable and easy to grow.
This is the famous 'Green Swan' orchid. Easy to grow, as long as you don't rot the darn thing! I have 3 of them now, and have grown them very well in the past. They can get very very big!! I have produced 14 or more flowers on a single spray. The fragrance is spectacular...a sort of mix of camphor and vanilla, but this isn't quite right either. A powerful scent...it seems to get stuck in your nose and follow you around for some time after leaving the presence of the plant. It is also true that this plant, if put it your living room while in bloom, will scent the entire space. It is truly astounding!
As for rotting, I have only rotted one of them to death. My first plant, from Alberts and Merkel many years ago. It arrived as an beautiful full grown plant, growing in fern root. I carefully put it on the shelf and kept it under observation. Finally, I watered it carefully. The next day it was a pile of black mush, rotten from the base. Go figure.
But I'd say these are very easy orchids. One of the plants I have was ordered this year from Norman's orchids. It was completely leafless when it arrived, but had been watered before shipment. Soon rot set in, high up on the new bulb. I had to surgically remove much of the tissue. The plant is fine now, but if I had not cut out a major chunk of the plant, it would certainly be dead today. If such a rot starts from the base, you can often kiss the plant goodbye.
So, what's the trick? My recommendation is that you never be tempted to water during dormancy (when the leaves fall off), and when it does start growth in the spring, wait until good roots are formed and that the leaf fan starts expanding. Never mind if the bulbs whither... that's their nature. Just don't be tempted to water too early. They can die overnight!!
Some people have recommended watering during dormancy to prevent shriveling. Nah!! Forget it. Let them shrivel. I have never known them to die from shriveling. They mey look fairly shriveled, but become shriveled very graduallly. Then, they put out new growth. When I water them for the first time in spring, they typically plump back up in about 1 or 2 days!!! Then they're off and running. I have maintained Cycnoches for years using this treatment. If they do rot off on me, it is within a day or two of reciept of a new order, when they are getting adjusted or under stress of environment change, and then when they do rot, it is often when I have not even watered them once for the first time in my possession!!! I get them.... they rot immediately. Or, I get them... they live forever. In other words, once they become accustomed to my conditions, and settle in, they becove very stable and easy to grow.
Mormodes wolterianum
Goblin orchid
Date: 05/18/06
This plant is a free blooming Mormodes with very pretty scarlet red flowers. They also have a really nice sassafras scent. The plant is noted for being rare, in cultivation at least. It must be a quite variable species, because I have seen quite a few pictures and each looks a little different, mostly in the form of the flowers. All seem to be red, however.
This species likes food and good amounts of moisture. It had been growing smaller for me than the previous growths, but is making a come-back, getting bigger each season. I think it was chilled too much during deliver, both in shipment and in sitting on my porch in very cold weather for several hours when I acquired it. Mormodes like warmth! The photo is from an earlier blooming but the plant is blooming now in May 2006. Lots of charming Mormodes flowers. I am getting better results with these plants now by giving more moisture in the potting medium. I switched to using more long-fibered sphagnum mixed with some bark. I keep the plants evently moist, but perhaps more moist than I do for my Catasetums, which I like to let dry out a bit between waterings.
This species likes food and good amounts of moisture. It had been growing smaller for me than the previous growths, but is making a come-back, getting bigger each season. I think it was chilled too much during deliver, both in shipment and in sitting on my porch in very cold weather for several hours when I acquired it. Mormodes like warmth! The photo is from an earlier blooming but the plant is blooming now in May 2006. Lots of charming Mormodes flowers. I am getting better results with these plants now by giving more moisture in the potting medium. I switched to using more long-fibered sphagnum mixed with some bark. I keep the plants evently moist, but perhaps more moist than I do for my Catasetums, which I like to let dry out a bit between waterings.
Catasetum macroglossum
An orchid only a mother could love
Date: 11/19/05
I got this plant from somebody who got a big bunch of jungle imports. Knowbody knew what the plant was, but called it 'the dog's nose' orchid. This was because if you looked up inside the cavity of the lip it was all shiny and slimy looking, with gross veins and icky stuff in there. Fascinating in its way, I suppose, but to this day I call it the 'Dog's Nose' orchid. It was probably the easiest orchid in the world to grow, and regularly produced a hefty plant with a rugged spray of green flowers, which smell pungently of licorice. These are the male flowers, by the way. The females are probably just like these... only less beautiful. ;-)
Catasetum (Clowesia) Grace Dunn 'Chadds Ford' AM/AOS
Date: 11/19/05
This isn't really a Catasetum, rather a Clowesia. These are a bit different with regard to sex. The flowers are 'perfect'. This means they have both female and male parts in the same flower. Unlike Catasetums, they have no trigger hairs, and have some other characteristics that are different. Anyway, this plant is a real cutie pie. This is a first flowering. It had two spikes with about 15 flowers total. When these plants get big they can form many spikes with large numbers of flowers. Otherwise, the individual flowers are only about 1 inch wide, but are a nice pink. The flowers are stiff like plastic, and last about 3 or 4 weeks.... I lost count.
One of the best things about these is that the flowers have a unique fragrance. At the early and late parts of the day they smell distinctly like furnisher polish of some sort, or floor wax. At those few hours around midday on sunny days they smell very strongly and distinctly like grapefruit juice-- a wonderful scent!
This plant is growing in sphagnum moss, which it seems to like. I may keep growing it in sphagnum (even though I don't trust the stuff) because the roots of this plant are fairly fine, and it seems to respond well to being more moist than they might be in bark mix.
One of the best things about these is that the flowers have a unique fragrance. At the early and late parts of the day they smell distinctly like furnisher polish of some sort, or floor wax. At those few hours around midday on sunny days they smell very strongly and distinctly like grapefruit juice-- a wonderful scent!
This plant is growing in sphagnum moss, which it seems to like. I may keep growing it in sphagnum (even though I don't trust the stuff) because the roots of this plant are fairly fine, and it seems to respond well to being more moist than they might be in bark mix.
Cycnoches (pentadactylon x dianae)
Smaller growing Cycnoches
Date: 11/19/05
I got this Cycnoches from JEM Orchids in Florida. It's a fairly small plant, and seems to be an easy, rapid grower and a very easy bloomer. It can bloom more than once a season easily, with fragrant flowers, and lots of them. The flowers, like the plant, are not huge, but they have a certain charm in the way they cascade and display themselves around the spike.
I guess this cross was an attempt to get some pinkish swan orchids. This one shows a little pink flushing, but not enough to garner any awards I'd say. Even so, a fun little plant, so far no more than 4 inches tall and growing in a 3 inch plastic pot. I'm growing this in a mix of about 1/2 small grade bark and 1/2 New Zealand sphagnum, which helps it hold moisture but dry out quickly. Actually I think the Cycnoches like good contact with a moist media, but one never soggy in nature.
As usual I respect the rest periods on these plants, letting them go dry for fairly long periods of time. When leafless, they don't need much moisture. ...and never mist them in this state!
I guess this cross was an attempt to get some pinkish swan orchids. This one shows a little pink flushing, but not enough to garner any awards I'd say. Even so, a fun little plant, so far no more than 4 inches tall and growing in a 3 inch plastic pot. I'm growing this in a mix of about 1/2 small grade bark and 1/2 New Zealand sphagnum, which helps it hold moisture but dry out quickly. Actually I think the Cycnoches like good contact with a moist media, but one never soggy in nature.
As usual I respect the rest periods on these plants, letting them go dry for fairly long periods of time. When leafless, they don't need much moisture. ...and never mist them in this state!
Catasetum (Alexis Pardo x Thinger Dinger)
Date: 11/19/05
This was JEM Orchids's cross number 398, which was originally sold with a mistaken identity in stead of the Thinger Dinger parent. It has the curious trough-like lip from Thinger Dinger combined with many of the general color and shape features of Alexis Pardo. There is a picture of a clone of Alexis Pardo in the book 'The World of Catasetums' by Arthur Holst, and it is easy to see its influence in this cross too.
This blooming (August 15th, 2004) produced 7 flowers, each measuring 4" in width, produced on a more or less horizontal spike from a half-developed growth. The color is hard to describe: it's a sort of redish buff lilac made up from numerous small dots on a similarly colored background field. It is a creamy white in the throat around the central lip spur depression. The callus on the lip is very thick. A distinct and pleasant licorice-like scent pervades the flowers. The flowers last about a week in good condition, after which curling and reflexing of the sepals sets in, with eventual drying of those parts. The lip tends to remain in good condition for the full life of the flower, which is about 2 weeks or slightly longer. This is pretty normal for this type of breeding. It is not unusual for this plant to flower more than once a season, and will even throw spikes during the middle of their leafless dormant period.
I am growing this plant in a 4" clay pot in straight medium grade fir bark. I water and fertilize every 2 to 3 days. During the longest days of the summer I was watering every other day. In a more humid environment or in plastic pots I would surely water a bit less frequently.
Plant size is about medium for Catasetums. The plant is quite easy to grow and flower, but this seems true of just about all my plants so far. Are any of them actually hard to grow?
This blooming (August 15th, 2004) produced 7 flowers, each measuring 4" in width, produced on a more or less horizontal spike from a half-developed growth. The color is hard to describe: it's a sort of redish buff lilac made up from numerous small dots on a similarly colored background field. It is a creamy white in the throat around the central lip spur depression. The callus on the lip is very thick. A distinct and pleasant licorice-like scent pervades the flowers. The flowers last about a week in good condition, after which curling and reflexing of the sepals sets in, with eventual drying of those parts. The lip tends to remain in good condition for the full life of the flower, which is about 2 weeks or slightly longer. This is pretty normal for this type of breeding. It is not unusual for this plant to flower more than once a season, and will even throw spikes during the middle of their leafless dormant period.
I am growing this plant in a 4" clay pot in straight medium grade fir bark. I water and fertilize every 2 to 3 days. During the longest days of the summer I was watering every other day. In a more humid environment or in plastic pots I would surely water a bit less frequently.
Plant size is about medium for Catasetums. The plant is quite easy to grow and flower, but this seems true of just about all my plants so far. Are any of them actually hard to grow?
Catasetum Memoria G. B. Piccone
(Ctsm Joao Stivali 'Dina Soloff' AM/AOS x Ctsm. appendiculatum)
Date: 11/19/05
I got this plant as a small seedling from JEM Orchids. I think it originated from Antonio Schmidt. It bloomed (actually it is in bloom as I write this on September 4th, 2004) on a half-grown lead, producing 9 flowers, each 2 inches across. Flowers are beautifully arranged on an arching spike. It seems to have no scent, or only a slight one. People who sniff it report a perception like 'fresh air' near the plant, which I also notice.
This plant is an easy grower. This one is growing in straight medium grade fir bark in a 4 inch terra cotta pot containing a good layer of broken pot shards. I like to do this with all my plants, to help keep them from falling over. When in growth I give it quite a bit of water if the weather is bright and warm-- every other day in fact. This season I have taken to putting fertilizer of various kinds in every watering. I started the 2004 season with a low nitrogen fertilizer, then moved up to a higher nitrogen type, alternating with Schultz's 20-20-20 at half strength, and occasional uses of fish emulsion. In 2005 I am using an orchid fertilizer with a higher nitrogen count.
This plant is an easy grower. This one is growing in straight medium grade fir bark in a 4 inch terra cotta pot containing a good layer of broken pot shards. I like to do this with all my plants, to help keep them from falling over. When in growth I give it quite a bit of water if the weather is bright and warm-- every other day in fact. This season I have taken to putting fertilizer of various kinds in every watering. I started the 2004 season with a low nitrogen fertilizer, then moved up to a higher nitrogen type, alternating with Schultz's 20-20-20 at half strength, and occasional uses of fish emulsion. In 2005 I am using an orchid fertilizer with a higher nitrogen count.
Catasetum Jumbo Eagle
(sanguineum x expansum)
Date: 11/19/05
I got this plant as a from Bergstrom's in Hawaii. The hybrid originated at Jumbo Orchids in Taiwan. The plant is now blooming on September 4th, 2004, with 7 flowers of an intense dark reddish grape purple, each about 2 inches or so across. The flowers have a sort of spicy, minty resinous scent that is quite pleasant. These flowers are extremely dark in color, especially in the cup-like lip, which inherets the complex ridges and passageways inside from the sanguineum parent. The expansum seems to be a less dominant parent, though it did make these flowers prefer to be resupinate, with the lip lowermost. Some clones of Jumbo Eagle have been awarded.
The plant is fairly hefty, with tall, plump cone-shaped or tapered pseudobulbs. Leaves are long and good-looking, of a darker green color than most of my catasetums. It likes quite a bit of water, as much as every other day in the warmth of summer-- but then don't forget I'm growing on windowsills in an extremely dry environment humidity-wise (about 35% usually). It is growing in straight fir bark in a 4 inch plastic pot. It grows fast and easily. It tends to be a bit top heavy, there being no weight in the pot. I plan to move it into a 4" clay pot next spring, with heavy balast in the bottom of the pot. I like clay mostly because I can tell more easily how much water is in the mix. A clay pot will feel clammy and heavy when it has water in it, but plastic makes things a bit less clear-cut.
The plant is fairly hefty, with tall, plump cone-shaped or tapered pseudobulbs. Leaves are long and good-looking, of a darker green color than most of my catasetums. It likes quite a bit of water, as much as every other day in the warmth of summer-- but then don't forget I'm growing on windowsills in an extremely dry environment humidity-wise (about 35% usually). It is growing in straight fir bark in a 4 inch plastic pot. It grows fast and easily. It tends to be a bit top heavy, there being no weight in the pot. I plan to move it into a 4" clay pot next spring, with heavy balast in the bottom of the pot. I like clay mostly because I can tell more easily how much water is in the mix. A clay pot will feel clammy and heavy when it has water in it, but plastic makes things a bit less clear-cut.
Cycnoches chlorochilon
Green swan orchid
Date: 11/19/05
This photo was taken in December 2004. The plant was a first bloom seedling with but a single flower, but the flower was really very very large. The dorsal sepal alone is at least 5 inches long, as is each petal. The segments are much larger than those belonging to Cycnoches warscewiczii. Other differences to note are the upward sweeping petals and the overall comparative elongation along the vertical axis of the flower. I might note too that chlorochilon is also rather differently and maybe more strongly fragrant than warscewiczii. The plant grows a bit smaller than warscewiczii as well. The scent is simply astounding.
The flower is strikingly large for the size of the plant. This plant, at its first blooming this season, has a lead bulb of only about 8 inches. I expect it to grow much larger. I have grown this species in the past (from a mericlone offering from Rod McLellan's many years ago) and it never seems to grow as large as warscewiczii. This flower is considerably larger than my older mericlone specimen, which I grew for some years before selling my former collection.
This is a species that is very similar to warscewiczii, but it is really rather different at the same time, and these two species are the subjects of quite a bit of confusion in both the trade and in scientific circles. Cycnoches chlorochilon has a lip callous that is different than warscewiczii's, and the lip is attached to the flower's base somewhat differently too. I would suggest that it is truly a different species despite the superficial similarities in color and form.
These two species, warscewiczii and chlorochilon, have been confused quite a bit, and when you buy a 'chlorochilon,' expect that it may actually be warscewiczii. With all this in mind, it is amusing that Jumbo Orchids company in Taiwan crossed these two species in recent years and named the grex 'Cycnoches Mass Confusion'. A plant of this cross will never have particularly unique flowers I am sure, but it would certainly make a great conversation piece. It's nice to see a commercial breeder with a sense of humour too!
The flower is strikingly large for the size of the plant. This plant, at its first blooming this season, has a lead bulb of only about 8 inches. I expect it to grow much larger. I have grown this species in the past (from a mericlone offering from Rod McLellan's many years ago) and it never seems to grow as large as warscewiczii. This flower is considerably larger than my older mericlone specimen, which I grew for some years before selling my former collection.
This is a species that is very similar to warscewiczii, but it is really rather different at the same time, and these two species are the subjects of quite a bit of confusion in both the trade and in scientific circles. Cycnoches chlorochilon has a lip callous that is different than warscewiczii's, and the lip is attached to the flower's base somewhat differently too. I would suggest that it is truly a different species despite the superficial similarities in color and form.
These two species, warscewiczii and chlorochilon, have been confused quite a bit, and when you buy a 'chlorochilon,' expect that it may actually be warscewiczii. With all this in mind, it is amusing that Jumbo Orchids company in Taiwan crossed these two species in recent years and named the grex 'Cycnoches Mass Confusion'. A plant of this cross will never have particularly unique flowers I am sure, but it would certainly make a great conversation piece. It's nice to see a commercial breeder with a sense of humour too!
Cycnoches lehmanii
Date: 11/19/05
This photo was taken in December 2004. The flowers are similar to those of Cycnoches chlorochilon and warscewiczii, and also to ventricosum. The plant has a similar growth habit to Cyc. warscewiczii. The flowers show strong reflexing of the petals, and the lip is compressed laterally, and is also very pearly white and interesting in appearance. The flowers have sepals and petals that are also more grassy green than those of chlorochilon and warscewiczii. The scent is quite strong and very very attractive.
Cycnoches lehmanii is a good parent for crossing with Mormodes and perhaps even a better parent to use than warscewiczii or chlorochilon in many crosses within the genus Cycnoches.
This plant is certainly worth growing, if only for the fragrance.
Cycnoches lehmanii is a good parent for crossing with Mormodes and perhaps even a better parent to use than warscewiczii or chlorochilon in many crosses within the genus Cycnoches.
This plant is certainly worth growing, if only for the fragrance.
Cycnoches Kevin Clarke
(Cycnoches warscewiczii x Cyc. herrenhusanum)
Date: 11/19/05
Herrenhusanum is a small-flowered swan orchid having many-flowered sprays of bright yellow flowers. Crossed with the big warscewiczii has produced a really good combination, although it loses the charming finger-like lip features that make herrenhusanum so interesting. This plant bloomed for the first time and is in bloom now on January 6, 2005. It bloomed with two flowers on a 4 inch bulbed plant growing in a 2 inch plastic pot. It should grow to be about 12 or 14 inches tall and produce gobs of flowers and should really be a stunner as a mature plant. The flowers are yellow-green with some deeper green undertones toward the center of the flower. The lip is white. Texture is waxy, and the form is nicely flat and full, measuring a little over 3 inches across. Fragrance is pleasant and somewhat different from warscewiczii's. My herrenhusanum has no scent at all that I can detect, contrary to some reports, but maybe that's just the clone I have. This plant has been in flower for a long time for a Cycnoches. The plant is also vigorous and easy grower, and 'matured' quickly. Actually, it is not really mature, it just bloomed precociously.
This cross is representative of some of the latest directions in breeding in this group. The effort is, in part, to create some new colors (other that green), and impart even more floriferous behavior. This cross was made by Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids in California. Thanks Fred!
I have a plant of Cyc. lehmanii x herrenhusanum that is due to open in a week, so stay tuned!
This cross is representative of some of the latest directions in breeding in this group. The effort is, in part, to create some new colors (other that green), and impart even more floriferous behavior. This cross was made by Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids in California. Thanks Fred!
I have a plant of Cyc. lehmanii x herrenhusanum that is due to open in a week, so stay tuned!
Catasetum atratum
fragrant, prolific species
Date: 11/19/05
This photo was taken on May 7, 2005.
This species is endemic to southern parts of Brazil, in cooler areas, so it does well with cool night time temperatures. The plant produces multiple spikes with lots of flowers. This blooming produced about 30 flowers on two spikes, making a very interesting display. Moreover, the flowers have a very potent scent. The scent is hard to describe. It is pleasant, but since it resembles the odor of some sort of floor wax, it is pleasant in the sense that the scent of floor wax is pleasant, which, I suppose, it is sometimes. These flowers are about 1-1/2 inches across.
This particular flower decided to be non-resupinate (right-side up). Some flowers on this plant like to present themselves in resupinate position, some in non-resupinate. Indeed, the literature is ambivalent as to whether this species presents in resupinate or non-resupinate position. Most, but not all, of the flowers on my plant are non-resupinate. Confused yet? This just means that some flowers display upside down, which for orchids means right-side up... uh oh... now I'm confused too.
The sprays produced by this plant are quite showy. The spikes grow upward, then the portion with flowers cascade downward in a very elegant fashion. I think this species is very worthwhile to grow, and is quite easy to cultivate too.
This species is endemic to southern parts of Brazil, in cooler areas, so it does well with cool night time temperatures. The plant produces multiple spikes with lots of flowers. This blooming produced about 30 flowers on two spikes, making a very interesting display. Moreover, the flowers have a very potent scent. The scent is hard to describe. It is pleasant, but since it resembles the odor of some sort of floor wax, it is pleasant in the sense that the scent of floor wax is pleasant, which, I suppose, it is sometimes. These flowers are about 1-1/2 inches across.
This particular flower decided to be non-resupinate (right-side up). Some flowers on this plant like to present themselves in resupinate position, some in non-resupinate. Indeed, the literature is ambivalent as to whether this species presents in resupinate or non-resupinate position. Most, but not all, of the flowers on my plant are non-resupinate. Confused yet? This just means that some flowers display upside down, which for orchids means right-side up... uh oh... now I'm confused too.
The sprays produced by this plant are quite showy. The spikes grow upward, then the portion with flowers cascade downward in a very elegant fashion. I think this species is very worthwhile to grow, and is quite easy to cultivate too.
Mormodes sinuata
Goblin orchid
Date: 07/08/06
This is a dwarfish Mormodes, with bulbs only about 3-4 inches tall. It puts out short stems of flowers that are clustered together. The flowers are a deep reddish purple with amethyst to white striping, and the lip is a lighter hue. There are small hairs on the flowers. One of the nicest things about it is its peppery ginger/sassafras scent, which is quite powerful during the daylight hours especially. The plant is easy to grow, takes little space, and puts out an attractive fan of tidy leaves.
As usual for mormodes, don't dowse it's top parts with water, and I am careful not to overwater or drip water on it on gray cool days. I grow mine fairly bright, maybe too bright this year, as it seemed to lose a little depth of green in the back bulbs. Maybe that's normal. Anyway, it bloomed on two spikes from one bulb just after Christmas and is still in bloom now on January 6, 2005.
This plant has been growing in straight medium grade fir bark for the past three years in a 4 inch clay pot. I plan to move it into a mix of half New Zealand sphagnum moss and bark this season, since this mix has a few advantages that I like and that has helped my other plants. The good features of this mix is that it seems to give more moisture contact to the roots but does not stay sticky wet, and it is easier to tell by feel when the plant needs to be watered again. Oddly, this mix actually seems to dry out faster than straight bark, maybe because of 'wicking' action in my dry environmental conditions. Another advantage is that it stays in the pot more strongly, resisting spilling or washing out. (If you've ever tipped over a potted plant growing in Aliflor, you know what I'm talking about.)
My plant produced what I had reported earlier as a small 'keiki' from a root. It is evidently some other orchid species! I can't tell what it is exactly, though it resembles a Phaius or Calanthe. I had repotted the plant in my own bark, but maybe it had a small chuck of another plant stuck down in the Mormodes' roots. Or, maybe it was a stray seed. Seeds sprouting and succeeding in normal (non sterile) conditions is rare, but not unheard of. My little volunteer was so tiny at first... but either way, I have something interesting to watch develop. Stay tuned.
Ok, now July 8, 2006, the little volunteer has bloomed. It is Spathoglottis plicata, a cute purple terrestrial from Asia. Now, that's a nice little surprise bonus! ...I don't know exactly how it got to be there, but who's to know?
Breeders in the Catasetinae group have noted that this plant, when bred onto others in the group such as Cycnoches, have produced some very deep, solid reddish colors in the progeny, seeming to forget that it should try to impart some genes for stripes I guess.
As usual for mormodes, don't dowse it's top parts with water, and I am careful not to overwater or drip water on it on gray cool days. I grow mine fairly bright, maybe too bright this year, as it seemed to lose a little depth of green in the back bulbs. Maybe that's normal. Anyway, it bloomed on two spikes from one bulb just after Christmas and is still in bloom now on January 6, 2005.
This plant has been growing in straight medium grade fir bark for the past three years in a 4 inch clay pot. I plan to move it into a mix of half New Zealand sphagnum moss and bark this season, since this mix has a few advantages that I like and that has helped my other plants. The good features of this mix is that it seems to give more moisture contact to the roots but does not stay sticky wet, and it is easier to tell by feel when the plant needs to be watered again. Oddly, this mix actually seems to dry out faster than straight bark, maybe because of 'wicking' action in my dry environmental conditions. Another advantage is that it stays in the pot more strongly, resisting spilling or washing out. (If you've ever tipped over a potted plant growing in Aliflor, you know what I'm talking about.)
My plant produced what I had reported earlier as a small 'keiki' from a root. It is evidently some other orchid species! I can't tell what it is exactly, though it resembles a Phaius or Calanthe. I had repotted the plant in my own bark, but maybe it had a small chuck of another plant stuck down in the Mormodes' roots. Or, maybe it was a stray seed. Seeds sprouting and succeeding in normal (non sterile) conditions is rare, but not unheard of. My little volunteer was so tiny at first... but either way, I have something interesting to watch develop. Stay tuned.
Ok, now July 8, 2006, the little volunteer has bloomed. It is Spathoglottis plicata, a cute purple terrestrial from Asia. Now, that's a nice little surprise bonus! ...I don't know exactly how it got to be there, but who's to know?
Breeders in the Catasetinae group have noted that this plant, when bred onto others in the group such as Cycnoches, have produced some very deep, solid reddish colors in the progeny, seeming to forget that it should try to impart some genes for stripes I guess.
Cycnoches JEM's Yellow Hummingbird
(Cyc. herrenhusanum x Cyc. lehmanii)
Date: 11/19/05
This cross was meant to produce yellows and although my photo looks a bit greenish, it gives the impression of being fairly yellow, with just subtle green flushing. On the other hand, I have a slight red-green color blindness which shifts greens for me; maybe it looks more green than yellow to most people other than me. The camera certainly caught the green!
This is a first blooming on a very small plant, only 4-5 inches tall. I expect large flamboyant displays in a couple of years. The flowers really are nice to look at, with a great form and pleasant fragrance. The flowers lasted fairly well. All in all, a vigorous plant, and one that is very easy to grow.
This might make an interesting parent crossed with the cooperi / barthiorum breeding line that is now appearing with a few breeders. Since lehmanii has been known to intensify colors in certain crosses, and the herrenhusanum adds gobs of flowers, there is still some potential for some interesting hybrid work.
This is a first blooming on a very small plant, only 4-5 inches tall. I expect large flamboyant displays in a couple of years. The flowers really are nice to look at, with a great form and pleasant fragrance. The flowers lasted fairly well. All in all, a vigorous plant, and one that is very easy to grow.
This might make an interesting parent crossed with the cooperi / barthiorum breeding line that is now appearing with a few breeders. Since lehmanii has been known to intensify colors in certain crosses, and the herrenhusanum adds gobs of flowers, there is still some potential for some interesting hybrid work.
Catasetum Jumbo Glory
(Ctsm (Clowesia) Rebecca Northen x Ctsm Bound for Glory)
Date/Time: 2005:11:19 23:25:22
This hybrid has no appreciable scent, unfortunately. Rebecca Northern certainly does, and my particular Bound for Glory is quite fragrant. But sometimes hybrids lose the scent of their parents.
The spikes crawl across the top of the pot and then cascade nicely over the side. Flowers are a little over 2 inches across, and last fairly well.
This plant grows easily, but I discovered that it grows much bigger when given large quantities of water. The growth tripled in size when I put it in a mix of medium bark with lots of sphagnum moss (about 50% of each) and kept it moist, never letting it dry out completely.
The spikes crawl across the top of the pot and then cascade nicely over the side. Flowers are a little over 2 inches across, and last fairly well.
This plant grows easily, but I discovered that it grows much bigger when given large quantities of water. The growth tripled in size when I put it in a mix of medium bark with lots of sphagnum moss (about 50% of each) and kept it moist, never letting it dry out completely.
Catasetum Bound for Glory 'Kilauea Orchids'
(pileatum x Orchidglade)
(click here for a close up shot) Date: 01/15/06 This is a very fine hybrid that comes in many colors. I've seen pure yellows, spots, and solid reds like this one. The flowers are a dark burgundy/cherry color, with a dusky green reverse, the petals blotched the same cherry color as on the forward facing surfaces of the flower. size is very large-- 4 inches between tips of the lateral sepals. A true show stopper, this. People literally gasp when they see it. Ten flowers this time, but it can get lots more on a spike under the best of conditions.
Fragrance on this plant is quite strong. It has a kind of resinous scent with a strong presence of licorice. I find it pleasant.
Grow this one just like pileatum, which is one of the parents. Good moisture, warmth, and medium to bright light is good for them. Humidity during the growing season is helpful, but the plants are very adaptable.
This plant started a growth in December of 2004 and bloomed on that growth April 3, 2005. The pseudobulb will continue to grow and plump up for the next several weeks. I expect the plant to begin a new growth this summer and bloom again in the fall some time.
This photo Thanks to Richard Naskali, Professor Emeritus Arboretum Director at the University of Idaho, Orchid grower and photographer, and a former grower for Thomas Young Orchids.
(click here for a close up shot)
(click here for a close up shot) Date: 01/15/06 This is a very fine hybrid that comes in many colors. I've seen pure yellows, spots, and solid reds like this one. The flowers are a dark burgundy/cherry color, with a dusky green reverse, the petals blotched the same cherry color as on the forward facing surfaces of the flower. size is very large-- 4 inches between tips of the lateral sepals. A true show stopper, this. People literally gasp when they see it. Ten flowers this time, but it can get lots more on a spike under the best of conditions.
Fragrance on this plant is quite strong. It has a kind of resinous scent with a strong presence of licorice. I find it pleasant.
Grow this one just like pileatum, which is one of the parents. Good moisture, warmth, and medium to bright light is good for them. Humidity during the growing season is helpful, but the plants are very adaptable.
This plant started a growth in December of 2004 and bloomed on that growth April 3, 2005. The pseudobulb will continue to grow and plump up for the next several weeks. I expect the plant to begin a new growth this summer and bloom again in the fall some time.
This photo Thanks to Richard Naskali, Professor Emeritus Arboretum Director at the University of Idaho, Orchid grower and photographer, and a former grower for Thomas Young Orchids.
(click here for a close up shot)
Catasetum barbatum
The bearded Catasetum
Date: 11/20/05
When I originally bought this plant, I had ordered a Cycnoches haagii. Somehow it just didn't seem like a Cycnoches. But I treated it like one, with lots of water, and it bloomed out as this Catasetum barbatum. This Catasetum is fairly variable, with variance in color and the degree and length of hairiness in the lip. Anyway, it throws a wonderful, many-flowered spike of fragrant flowers that last 2 or more weeks. It seems very easy to grow, with fairly bright light and moisture. By this I mean that in a 4" plastic pot with medium grade fir bark, I water every third or fourth day in warm bright weather. It seems to love water, and will show bulb shriveling when it's thirsty, and will plump up within hours when I water it. Leaves are a deep green even with lots of light...much deeper green than most of my other Catasetums.
This particular plant would appear to be fairly typical. It has nubby hairs, whereas many pictures of this species show longer and more plentiful hairs, especially on more select or desirable clones. Expect variability in these. But all will put on a nice show, and the arrangement of flowers on the spike makes a nice display. I wouldn't pass this species up. My plant has long flower stems, making a nice, open spray, not as crowded as the photos I've seen in Holsts's book on Catasetums.
And now the rest of the story: I had written to the firm complaining about this plant not seeming like a Catasetum. They insisted it was hand picked and definitely a Cycnoches haagii. Well, when I sent them the photo, they kindly offered to send a replacement Cycnoches herrenhusanum. Wow! That Cycnoches is a beauty, and I'll get a photo of it up here on this site as soon as I get a good pic.
In year 2005 the plant produced 19 flowers I think. It's hard to count them when there are so many. Last year the plant produced 2 bloomings, the second coming a few weeks after the first. Let's see what this years blooming brings. It's now August 9th, 2005 as I write this, and the plant is in full flower-- the first blooming for the season.
This particular plant would appear to be fairly typical. It has nubby hairs, whereas many pictures of this species show longer and more plentiful hairs, especially on more select or desirable clones. Expect variability in these. But all will put on a nice show, and the arrangement of flowers on the spike makes a nice display. I wouldn't pass this species up. My plant has long flower stems, making a nice, open spray, not as crowded as the photos I've seen in Holsts's book on Catasetums.
And now the rest of the story: I had written to the firm complaining about this plant not seeming like a Catasetum. They insisted it was hand picked and definitely a Cycnoches haagii. Well, when I sent them the photo, they kindly offered to send a replacement Cycnoches herrenhusanum. Wow! That Cycnoches is a beauty, and I'll get a photo of it up here on this site as soon as I get a good pic.
In year 2005 the plant produced 19 flowers I think. It's hard to count them when there are so many. Last year the plant produced 2 bloomings, the second coming a few weeks after the first. Let's see what this years blooming brings. It's now August 9th, 2005 as I write this, and the plant is in full flower-- the first blooming for the season.
Catasetum schmidtianum
a variable species
Date: 11/20/05
This fairly newly described species of Catasetum puts out a gracefully arching spray of quite large flowers. The spike emerges as soon as the bulb has formed in late summer. (It is in bloom as I write this on August 24, 2005). Found in Brazil mostly, it has a medium plant stature with long, sometimes sinuous pseudobulbs, and graceful wavy leaves. It seems to like a fairly long rest, and seems to enjoy some slight drying out between waterings, and an open mix. Mine is growing in a 4 inch plastic pot loosely packed with straight medium grade fir bark. Holst's book on Catasetums claims that it needs to grow in a basket and doesn't bloom when potted, but clearly this is not true for everybody. The basket approach suggests good root aeration and more than the usual drying out, so treat accordingly and see what happens. I suspect it is by nature an easily bloomed plant. I see that mine is already starting a second spike while the first is in full flower.
The flowers on my plant are about 3 inches across, 5 on the spike-- though my plant is still young and I'm sure they can produce many more than that. The lips in particular on these dark, spotted blooms are interesting. They have a pronounced pouch shape, but are almost solid tissue, very thick. The color is a rich, glossy, dark wine color on the front portion of the lip, which also has pointed teeth or hairy projections all along the rim. The lip's upper surface is more or less flat (except for the sac opening), with warty lumps everywhere. The column is nicely colored with contrasting light green/cream and dark reddish spots.
I originally ordered this plant as Catasetum spitzii variety sanguineum, which this is most certainly not, of course. Caveat emptor, as the saying goes. Anyway, Ctsm. schmidtianum is a nice flower. Get more than one, because they come in quite a bit of color variations.
The flowers on my plant are about 3 inches across, 5 on the spike-- though my plant is still young and I'm sure they can produce many more than that. The lips in particular on these dark, spotted blooms are interesting. They have a pronounced pouch shape, but are almost solid tissue, very thick. The color is a rich, glossy, dark wine color on the front portion of the lip, which also has pointed teeth or hairy projections all along the rim. The lip's upper surface is more or less flat (except for the sac opening), with warty lumps everywhere. The column is nicely colored with contrasting light green/cream and dark reddish spots.
I originally ordered this plant as Catasetum spitzii variety sanguineum, which this is most certainly not, of course. Caveat emptor, as the saying goes. Anyway, Ctsm. schmidtianum is a nice flower. Get more than one, because they come in quite a bit of color variations.
Cycnoches (herrenhusanum x haagii)
Date: 11/20/05
This Cycnoches is bred for 'bright chartreuse' colors. These male flowers are rather a sort of tawny green with a hint of tan. The lips are a creamy yellow. Note that the lips have the tell-tell 'pincers' crest on the lip, and show the lip from inhereted mostly from the haagii. The flowers are about 2-1/2 inches across. They have a pleasant, sweet fragrance. This blooming yielded 12 flowers on the spike. They are in bloom now (October 13, 2005) and have been out for some few weeks now, and are holding up well. The plant has a nice compact stature, which I like, given limited growing real estate.
Cycnoches William Clarke
(female)
Date: 11/20/05
This Cycnoches is one of a new crop of crosses aimed at getting interesting new colors. These female flowers are very similar to the female flowers of cooperi, with the dark brownish tones. Herrenhusanum's female flowers are similar in form. The parent cooperi was the clone named 'Dark Jem' and was a dark color.
Interestingly, shortly after the pictured flowers bloomed there was a second wave on a second spike, also female. Those flowers were much richer brown in color-- quite handsome. I haven't seen the males yet, but maybe they too will show the rich brown.
Interestingly, shortly after the pictured flowers bloomed there was a second wave on a second spike, also female. Those flowers were much richer brown in color-- quite handsome. I haven't seen the males yet, but maybe they too will show the rich brown.
Cycnoches barthiorum 'Pink Dove'
a rare, relatively new species
Date/Time: 2005:11:13 13:13:50
Cycnoches barthiorum is a species of recent introduction. Up until just around last year even young plants could be quite expensive. The prices are going down. This clone is nice, but it isn't pink despite the cultivar name. It's really more green-with-spots than pink. There are more highly colored clones around. The plant is now about 11 or 12 inches tall, growing in a 3 inch pot. Like typical Cycnoches, give them plenty of even moisture, good light, and warmth. This plant is being used in breeding Cycnoches hybrids, in which it contributes spotted blooms and lots of flowers. My plant has no fragrance that I can detect.
Too bad.
Too bad.
Catasetum pileatum
(pileatum 'blanco' x imperiale 'maracay')
Date: 03/30/07
This photo is from a first bloom plant, taken on May 12, 2005. I got this plant as a small seedling from Hausermann's Orchids. I don't know from where they got it, but it wasn't Antonio Schmidt because I asked him about it. Anybody happen to know the provenance of this cross?
Given the breeding with imperiale, I expected some colored markings on this plant, but as you can see from the picture it is about as white as you can get. Actually, these male flowers are a gorgeous alabaster white, with just a hint of ice green flush on the sepals and petals. I am used to whites having some yellow in the throat, but this plant has no yellow at all, though there is a little spot of greenish in the lip depression.
This young plant in a 4 inch clay pot had 7 flowers on first blooming. On maturity you can often get 10 to 14 flowers. The emerging spike rose quite vertically, then finally became more or less horizontal. Pileatums tend to display their flowers on a strongly pendent spike, which makes for a very attractive display but requires some ingenious methods for propping up the plant for show. The fragrance on this clone is quite strong, and is similar to a resinous, musky licorice scent.
I grew this plant in a mix of high quality 50% long fibre New Zealand sphagnum and 50% medium grade fir bark. As of March 2007 I put it in fir bark with about 20% perlite. I did this to eliminate the annual repotting. It is growing fantastically well already; I don't think the mix matters too much, so go for convenience and whatever you 'understand.' I grow it with warm temperatures and good light (Cattleya light conditions are good). I feed heavily with high nitrogen fertilizer, using 1/2 strength early in the season, then stronger solutions in the peak growing period in late spring and summer. I water this species quite a lot, keeping it evenly moist so that it s pseudobulbs stay plump. It seems to appreciate water. Growth is especially vigorous in this species, which is generally robust, easy and dependable. Multiple bloomings per season are common, which is helpful given that the flowers only last about one week.
Given the breeding with imperiale, I expected some colored markings on this plant, but as you can see from the picture it is about as white as you can get. Actually, these male flowers are a gorgeous alabaster white, with just a hint of ice green flush on the sepals and petals. I am used to whites having some yellow in the throat, but this plant has no yellow at all, though there is a little spot of greenish in the lip depression.
This young plant in a 4 inch clay pot had 7 flowers on first blooming. On maturity you can often get 10 to 14 flowers. The emerging spike rose quite vertically, then finally became more or less horizontal. Pileatums tend to display their flowers on a strongly pendent spike, which makes for a very attractive display but requires some ingenious methods for propping up the plant for show. The fragrance on this clone is quite strong, and is similar to a resinous, musky licorice scent.
I grew this plant in a mix of high quality 50% long fibre New Zealand sphagnum and 50% medium grade fir bark. As of March 2007 I put it in fir bark with about 20% perlite. I did this to eliminate the annual repotting. It is growing fantastically well already; I don't think the mix matters too much, so go for convenience and whatever you 'understand.' I grow it with warm temperatures and good light (Cattleya light conditions are good). I feed heavily with high nitrogen fertilizer, using 1/2 strength early in the season, then stronger solutions in the peak growing period in late spring and summer. I water this species quite a lot, keeping it evenly moist so that it s pseudobulbs stay plump. It seems to appreciate water. Growth is especially vigorous in this species, which is generally robust, easy and dependable. Multiple bloomings per season are common, which is helpful given that the flowers only last about one week.
Catasetum tabulare
...an interesting variety of the species
Date: 12/13/05
Catasetum tabulare is a warmth-lover. My plant is really a big thing. These flowers grow on a stout 2-foot long spike, with large, slightly imposing flowers. The species is very variable, but mostly the lips will show a large ivory white callus. This one is spotted with bright scarlet markings, and the lip callus is covered with rough raised growths. I think it is a variety of the species, of which several have been named, but I'm not sure which variety this might be. I purchased the plant as Ctsm. tuberculatum, which it certainly is not. In any case, this plant grows rapidly. Mine has consistently started growth in fall, blooms in December on a half-grown bulb, then completes the growth. It goes dormant through the summer. This seems to be the reverse for most of my plants, which prefer to grow during the months with longer days. Well, you can never second guess a Catasetum.
Catasetum juruenense
Catasetum juruenense - a small Brazilian species
Date: 04/11/08
Catasetum juruenense is a cute, small Catasetum. The flowers are a kind of buff jade green with darker blends or undertones. The toothed rim on the lip is intriguing, and this clone has a double row of teeth. The overall impression is attractive. The flowers on this plant are about 1-1/2 inches across, displayed on a semi-pendent raceme with 5 flowers on this blooming. They can get 7 to 9 flowers. They have no discernable scent. My plant is growing happily in a 2-1/2 inch plastic pot filled with a mix of medium grade fir bark and long-fibered New Zealand sphagnum moss. The plant seems to like medium light and even moisture. As usual, dry the plant between waterings when flowering is finished, and don't water while dormant unless it becomes extremely dehydrated, which it probably will not do in any case. During growth, keep evenly moist.
This plant will remain small. Holst's book claims that this plant needs to be grown in a basket, but this does not seem to be my experience. Pots are fine, just don't overwater. Keep it airy and as humid as you can, to about 70%. However, my plant is growing in my home with 30% to 40% humidity. 50% would be better as a minimum. I'm going to add another humidifier to my bedroom growing area!
This plant will remain small. Holst's book claims that this plant needs to be grown in a basket, but this does not seem to be my experience. Pots are fine, just don't overwater. Keep it airy and as humid as you can, to about 70%. However, my plant is growing in my home with 30% to 40% humidity. 50% would be better as a minimum. I'm going to add another humidifier to my bedroom growing area!