Catasetum Planiceps

[orchidsarefun]

I used the tin-foil tophat trick to ( hopefully ) produce male flowers.
Take a look at the pictures. Do you think these buds are male and secondly can I remove the tophat ?

[Kevin_PR]

I never heard of a trick like that. I' pretty sure the flowers sex is determined before any buds are formed. I have a Catasetum tabulare that is sending out its second spike this season 1st was female , this one looks female too. The plants produce less female than male flowers so ur flowers look female to me.

---------- Post added at 09:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 AM ----------

I read some further posts and apparently this trick does work. Shows what I know

[isurus79]

I'd say those are male and that yes, you can remove the cap. The gender of the flowers are already set.

[bellini girl]

Who knew? I learn something every day on OB . that's why hanging out here is so awesome

[orchidsarefun]

well we will soon see if there is any credence to the trick ! I have read that some breeders say that flower gender has more to do with the plant being robust/healthy than with light levels.
I am not going to "treat" my other cat.....but only because I want female flowers
I want to use the pollen from this in a cross. Interestingly there are no registered crosses using Planiceps.
Anyone know why.......as in impossible in cultivation because of..... ?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

well we will soon see if there is any credence to the trick ! I have read that some breeders say that flower gender has more to do with the plant being robust/healthy than with light levels.

Its a combination of light and plant size. Smaller plants are easier to manipulate, but getting male flowers from larger plants is still more likely using the tin foil method. Hopefully you get a female spike on the next one!

[orchidsarefun]

any day now......
BTW - that "dew" on the leaves is what attracted the ants when this was outdoors, as well as my other cats. Strangely enough only ants, no wasps. I wonder what the natural interaction is supposed to be in Nature. Do you think they could be pollinators ?

[euplusia]

Ants like Catasetums like crazy. They are not pollinators, this job is done by euglossine bees. Eventually they prevent the plant from natural enemies.

[Rowangreen]

Orchidsarefun, there is a cross: with pileatum. I know as I've just purchased one on eBay. To be honest I don't know if mine is x wendlingeri, or Wendlingeri (I'd sort of assumed the latter... but I may be wrong!), but you might want to look it up. My guess is planiceps hasn't been crossed because the flowers are not exactly spectacular (ducks...).

Here's x wendlingeri: IOSPE PHOTOS

[orchidsarefun]

I see that in RHS, thanks. I wonder if its recent as my 2012 OrchidWiz doesn't have it.
The wendlingeri "looks" similar to planiceps, but a nice yellow. That space-helmet look must be dominant.

I want to cross my planiceps with a "black" flowered cat.


This looks a little creepy