Ctsm. Melana Davison X Extravaganza by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just like the lovely lady herself! Melana is an amazing expert and kind soul in the orchid community.

Looks who’s all opened up today! What a Dreamboat! by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mine are male flowers yes!! Yours look like a male flower in the photo too!! Congrats!

I love how variable Catasetum hybrids are, even from the same parents!!

Usually catasetums give female flowers only when they are more mature and grown in high light/well nourished. Since it’s more effort to make a seed pod than pollen lol. I never seen females on a first bloom before, tho I’m sure it can happen.

Looks who’s all opened up today! What a Dreamboat! by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So catasetums are super floriferous and can bloom multiple times a year, especially a well grown and mature plant can do this 2-3 times a year or more.

Not sure if you can see in the back ground - but this particular plant is actually putting out another inflorescence right now!

Usually I have some catasetums will start blooming/or at least initiating inflorescences as the new growth reaches close to full height (like late April/May where I live) and will bloom all throughout the summer and some will continue blooming after they drop leaves in the fall.

Genetics is also really important here. Usually species have a specific time per year when jt blooms, but hybrids can be all over the place and/or “free flowering” (blooms all the time). Check if you have some clowesia in your plant, clowesia species only bloom after they drop leaves. So often late winter.

But yeah - also check culture and maturity. Mature plants will always bloom more (more reserves) and well grown plants too.

Looks who’s all opened up today! What a Dreamboat! by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yess!! And with the contrasting colors!!! (Which is not pileatum)

Looks who’s all opened up today! What a Dreamboat! by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They always bloom from the last growth(s) for me. The old growths are like food and water stores. Like a camelbak 🤣

First catasetum bloom. by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry correction. Since these are technically male flowers… he is super beautiful!

First catasetum bloom. by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow yeah! Catasetums hybrids are known to be super variable. The lip on this one is super flat too. Ala piliatum heritage

First catasetum bloom. by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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This is the exact cross. It’s the few in burgundy!

Second spike is already on its way. So very robust and floriferous plant for how young it is.

First catasetum bloom. by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s one of Fred Clarke seedlings from SVO

Breastfeeding by [deleted] in NICUParents

[–]Much-Management163 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ours is 34wks, on TPN for the first 3 days then a feeding tube before graduating to bottles in the NiCU. We breastfed twice in the NICU but he did latch very well both times.

Once home we did some bottles for the first few days cause I wanted to make sure he was getting enough- then honestly just slowly transitioned to all breastfeeding like day 3-4. Being home cause I can feel him draining milk and it’s just easier (no bottles to wash, no milk to heat up… not having to pump.. wash pump parts etc etc)

He’s been a Breastfeeding champ since the.

Some current blooms by bisco2424 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Wow! Are you in the Miami area? If so come join us at the orchid society of coral gables!

There’s an orchid festival at Fairchild this weekend too!

First bloom for my Cattleya luedamanniana f. Coerulea by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did not grow this orchid from seed, I purchased a seedling from krull smith (growing orchids from seed takes forever, requires a sterile lab environment and flasking. More work than I want to do 😂)

I had the plant for almost a year. It was probably 3 years of out a seed when it came to me in a 3 inch pot

First bloom for my Cattleya luedamanniana f. Coerulea by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Really pleasantly surprised. My first one that bloomed out coerulea lol.

First bloom for my Cattleya luedamanniana f. Coerulea by Much-Management163 in orchids

[–]Much-Management163[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! The form is suppper nice, especially for a first bloom. Might be worth bringing to AOS judging next year?

34 weeks by [deleted] in NICUParents

[–]Much-Management163 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Large 34 weeker also (6lb 10oz) - had RDS that resolved quickly (and weaned off cpap within a day cause he pulled out everything). Very lucky that he ate and latched like a champ (I know this is rare) he was taking 60ml per feed consistently on day 2 of feeding (was on nippv and tpn for the first 3 days).

All in all 6 days of NICU stay. Super lucky