Catasetum expansum is endemic to western Ecuador, west of the Cerros de Colonche and in the Mira River valley. It grows in dry forest, from near sea level to almost 700 meters.
Catasetum expansum also called as The Expansive Catasetum, Catasetum expansum var sodiroi, Catachaetum recurvatum, Catasetum cliftonii, Catasetum platyglossum, Catasetum recurvatum, Catasetum sodiroi, is a species of the genus Catasetum. This species was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1878.
IDENTIFY CATASETUM EXPANSUM ORCHID PLANT
Catasetum expansum is endemic to western Ecuador, west of the Cerros de Colonche and in the Mira River valley. It grows in dry forest, from near sea level to almost 700 meters.
It is a large sized, showy, hot to cool growing epiphytic with spindle shaped, to 21 cm long and 3.2 cm wide pseudobulbs carrying several deciduous, plicate, lanceolate, to 48 cm long and 7.5 cm wide leaves.
The Expansive Catasetum bloom from May until December on a basal, 30 cm long, 6 flowered arching raceme arising on a newly forming pseudobulb carrying either male or female flowers. The flowers can be found in many colors including yellow, green, white and sometimes with maroon spots. The described flowers are with coloration of sepals and petals pale green, with only a few wine-colored spots on the lateral sepals; lip somewhat darker green; triangular callus in front of the lip orifice covered with "dried blood" color extending all around the orifice; column very light green; antennae white. Female flowers typical for the genus, smaller than the males with coloration green.
Lip form and flower color highly variable, but the species generally can be identified reliably by its broad, flattened lip with large, fleshy callus next to the cavity at the base. Its similarity to Catasetum pileatum, although their habitats are far apart.
CATASETUM EXPANSUM ORCHID PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Catasetum expansum are sun-loving plant and needs a light level of 30000-60000 lux. Unless the strong air movement found in the natural habitat can be duplicated, however, the grower should provide some shade (40-60 % shade). This species can be grown under lights if sufficient light intensity can be provided, and the plant certainly can be summered outdoors if their moisture requirements can be met.
Temperature:
Their climate is tropical to subtropical, with dry, near desert-like conditions. It has an even longer dry season and low humidity almost year-round. Most of the moisture results from nighttime dews. Temperatures range from a maximum 40°C to a minimum 15°C. In cultivation, 18°C is the ideal minimum night temperature.
Humidity:
Catasetum expansum tolerate an environment with 40 - 60 % relative humidity during their growing season, but for optimal development of new growth and flowering, 70 % is recommended.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Catasetum expansum is best to grown in wooden basket with fir bark, osmunda, tree fern fiber, charcoal, and sphagnum, in various proportions or combined with still other ingredients such as sponge rock, perlite, leaf mold, peat, and bark screenings as substrate.
It is recommended to repot every year and never wait more than two years. The optimal time for potting or repotting is when new growth on a plant emerging from dormancy is about 5 cm tall and the nubs have developed into new roots that are reaching for support.
Watering:
In its natural habitat it receives rainfall frequently even while dormant. The plant may be watered every sunny day during the growing season, provided conditions are such that they dry off relatively quickly. This species like to dry out at least slightly between waterings.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize with an appropriate formulation at least every week during the growing season, or fertilize with a weak formula every time the plants are watered. It is important to begin regular applications of high-nitrogen fertilizer (such as 10-5-5) with a full range of trace elements. As the leaves begin to unfurl, and well before flowering, add a high-phosphorus formula to develop big, strong pseudobulbs capable of producing robust inflorescences. Any of the soluble products with a large second-digit number (for example, 3-12-6) constitute a good source of phosphorus.
Rest period:
When the Catasetum expansum plants are leafless and no new growths are visible, the grower must respect their state of dormancy. Watering frequency should be reduced during dormancy. Fertilization should stop completely during this period. In the springtime, at the beginning of the growth cycle, water should not be made regularly available for the newly developing roots until the new growth is at least 5 cm tall.
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