Catasetum belong to the group of orchids and occur from Mexico to tropical America, with the majority in Brazil. Brazil is certainly the distribution center for the genus, with about 70% of its species being found in the country.

 

Catasetum have showy male and female flowers which are markedly different in size and color, usually on separate inflorescences. They have thick, cigar-shaped pseudobulbs which are clustered. The deciduous fleshy psuedobulbs have eight to twelve leaves.

 

The flowers start at the base of the psuedobulbs and may be erect or pendulous with male or female flowers. The male flowers are characterized with the ability to eject their pollina up to eight feet from the plant. The female flower can be seen with the male pollina in its stigmatic cavity.

 

The leaves are pleated in the upper part and are deciduous. The pseudobulbs become spiny after the leaves have dropped. Almost always deciduous, the pseudobulbous plants have strict growing and resting periods. Most flowers enter a dormant period when they drop their leaves.

 

Water is a critical factor for the production of large pseudobulbs that result in best flowering. A great quantity of water must be stored by the plant in a relatively short growing season. Potting should be timed to coincide with the initiation of new growth, usually in the spring. New roots will be produced quickly at that time, and plants will experience minimal setback.

 

Spider mites are a common pest of these orchids.

 

Did you know?

 

·        There are 70 species of Catasetum spread from Mexico to Argentina and the West Indies.

·        Catasetum aculeatum, Catasetum adremedium, Catasetum alatum, and Catasetum albovirens are some of the species of Catasetum plant.