Catasetum yum yum batman (Catasetum sanguineum x Catasetum jumbo pearl)

[catttan]

The sound of pelting rain on the zinc roof must have stimulated the 'testosterone' or whatever plant equivalent of that of the catasetums. LOL. Hmm come to think of it, have you noticed the multitude of children in slums and shanty towns that mostly have zinc sheets for their roofs?

[catasetum-ian]

The sound of pelting rain on the zinc roof must have stimulated the 'testosterone' or whatever plant equivalent of that of the catasetums. LOL. Hmm come to think of it, have you noticed the multitude of children in slums and shanty towns that mostly have zinc sheets for their roofs?

LOL.....did not really pay attention to the numbers of childrens but i do believe the number of light hours is the determining factor here. will update on the four pots of upcoming spike for the next two months to come

[catasetum-ian]

just a update on the full bloom appearance of a the batman

[TwoStems]

Are the female flowers still around? I'd love to see some photos of them as well. Weird creatures they are

[catasetum-ian]

Are the female flowers still around? I'd love to see some photos of them as well. Weird creatures they are

i am afraid no, if you refer back to the first post in this thread, you would notice that all the three female had been pollinated withered. the male flower bloom a week later after the female. but most female catasetums look alike even though of different species.

[TwoStems]

Ah I see! I noticed they looked withered in the first post but not having any experience with catasetums I wasn't sure they were withered or in bud or what they were doing haha. Good to know!

[catasetum-ian]

Ah I see! I noticed they looked withered in the first post but not having any experience with catasetums I wasn't sure they were withered or in bud or what they were doing haha. Good to know!

here is a pic of the female,,,,,this one is from the first spike of this plant.

[TwoStems]

Those are so cool! Who wouldn't want these? heh

[catasetum-ian]

Those are so cool! Who wouldn't want these? heh

on the contrary, catasetum are considered to be the least popular among orchid enthusiast and also nursery operator. you wait for about 4 months plus for a spike and it last only about 7 days, provided you did not accidentally shoot the pollina or while sniffing at it.
for a nursery operator, after the blooms is gone....they would have a hard time selling it. and also because of this, i am having a hard time looking for one here

[Halloamey]

That is very interesting to know. I study the genes that regulate the development of flower organs. And we knew that temperature affects the formation of protein complexes (high temperatures = more energy = less association and complex formation) leading to loss of male reproductive whorls and functions. The model plant arabidopsis (usually grown at 21-25 oC) when grown at 30 oC has petals and no stamens so essentially a female flower. Light having this effect is new to me, worth further investigation. Could you do a simple experimentation where you keep the light intensity same but reduce the temperature say by 3-5 oC ??

read it, you may also find it in the book "world of catasetums". catasetum produces male flower in lower light intensity and female in bright lights. i find this is very true as during sunny hot months, female flowers are abundant! (if you prefer male flower you can always increase the shading percentage of the netting). changing the plant in the mid of a spike formation and having two sexes of flower in a stalk, this is not the first time for me.
however you may also find different plants place in the same area produces two different sexes of the flower although with the same light intensity. some would also said that healthy plants with heavy foliage tends to produce male flowers because of shading effect from the leaves as the spike forms from beneath.
others say that female flower is produce when a plant is under stress and it is a instinct by the plant to continue its existence. however, this catasetum yum2 batman and my ctsm sanguineum had heavy foliage and big fat bulb, yet produces female flowers. but both are in high light intensity area. i had now transferred them to a dim area and we shall see the second spike (started to form) from the ctsm sanguineum produces male flower then next time.