Clowesia Rebecca Northen

[catasetum-ian]

got this as seedling from a friend about two years ago. id came as Rebecca Northen but when it bloomed, i was a little bit skeptical about the id because of the color and lack of the frolly appearance on the labellum. however the person who passed me the seedlings was quite sure there is no mistaken id label, so i guess i got to live with this id for now.

the good thing about clowesia is that it is a perfect flower, so i took this chance to try cross ing them with catasetums. using the mentor pollen technique, i crossed with three different catasetums, initially all three pods started to take some shape but by today two had turned yellow (only one, let in the pic showing the pods)is still hanging on and i am keeping my finger cross.

[ksriramkumar]

Looks nice.

[Chris in Hamilton]

Good Luck!!

[Sheryl]

Nice!

[JDT]

Good luck with that last pod!

[Azizan]

so i took this chance to try crossing them with catasetums. using the mentor pollen technique, i crossed with three different catasetums

What is the "mentor pollen technique"? Would you mind explaining? Thank you.

[catasetum-ian]

What is the "mentor pollen technique"? Would you mind explaining? Thank you.

well if i got it right,
it is a method where you put the self pollen behind the pollinated desired pollen during pollination.
from what i read is the self pollen will sort of increase the like hood of 'take' for the pollen from other genera.

[Azizan]

well if i got it right,
it is a method where you put the self pollen behind the pollinated desired pollen during pollination.
from what i read is the self pollen will sort of increase the like hood of 'take' for the pollen from other genera.

I am excited to learn that technique! If I understand correctly, do you mean that you insert the Clowesia with self pollen and desired Catasetum pollen in one flower (2 different pollens in one flower)?

[catasetum-ian]

I am excited to learn that technique! If I understand correctly, do you mean that you insert the Clowesia with self pollen and desired Catasetum pollen in one flower (2 different pollens in one flower)?

yeap....the catasetum pollen in first, then the clowesia pollina behind it but not into the receptive area.

[Azizan]

yeap....the catasetum pollen in first, then the clowesia pollina behind it but not into the receptive area.

This is the first time I came across this technique. I might implement this technique to my orchids. Thanks!