Catasetum osculatum

[Dorsetman]

I posted pics of the same plant earlier this year when it had a spike of 2 flowers , these were carried on the smaller green bulb here , and now it has 6 from the later bulb. Both made since importing the leafless back-bulbs earlier in the year.
Most of the good varieties and the complex hybrids come from a single nursery in Korea, who send them out as leafless bulbs, in January. This was one the first to get going, and since it is so early in the year, maybe it will start another growth even now. Some of the ones I bought in the same batch have only just started a new growth , but others started at the same time as this one and are now getting near to having a decent bulb ; of course they won't do well until they have several years live roots , I suppose, although some of these are annually deciduous and I'm not sure if the roots do then live from year to year. Maybe I am trying to generalise too far with such a diverse group - some of the hybrids I have are Catasetum/Cymbidium or Catasetum/Ansellia for example and surely they will need different culture from Catasetum with its much nearer cousins like Clowesia or Cycnoches ?
They are a great challenge in cultivation, but offer such different and interesting flowers, to make them well worth the effort I think.

[coeruleo]

very interesting looking. i thought the pics looked like a back-bulb planint... but blooming so quick? that's great! congrats. i never got a cymbidium back-bulb to bloom until it's second year at best. this must be a warmer growing relative?

[Cjcorner]

I can see why people try to grow them...they are the most interesting flower i've seen in awhile! Very nice!

[pavel]

Sweet flowers, Geoff!

I had never heard of catesetums ever being crossed with cymbidiums before. I would be interested in seeing what results from such a cross.

[catttan]

Beautiful. Geoff! Catasetums crossed with Cymbidiums and Ansellias ? Should be very interesting !

[Dorsetman]

Beautiful. Geoff! Catasetums crossed with Cymbidiums and Ansellias ? Should be very interesting !

There are more than 20 different intergeneric combinations in the Catasetum group - another genus used is Grammatophyllum. I have accumulated some 40 or 50 different hybrds so far, but mostly in the last year or so, and not many have yet got to flowering size or season. In general I did find pictures on the internet before I bought - I don't want to end up with plants with amazingly interesting labels and rubbish flowers ! But I'll wait until I can show the real things from my greenhouse.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Really interesting orchid!!

cheers,
BD

[catasetum-ian]

catasetum x ansellia = catasellia; horticulture abbreviation (ctsl)
but catasetum and grammatophyllum, well this is new for me. but should be possible since they can cross a mormodes with grammatophyllum (clomophyllum, horticulture abbreviation = clm)
interesting indeed, hope to see lots of your pics on those intergenerics hybrid.

[mazlani]

Thanks for all the info shared here guys. Really appreciate it .