pods

[exasperatus2002]

Ive read two different sources that had a slightly different time table for Cattleya seed pods. some say 4-5 and one thats 5-6 months. So what is it? This would be for a cross Im making with Slc. Chia Lin "New City' AM/AOS and Guarianthe aurantiaca (formerly Cattleya aurantiaca). I have one pod forming now. So how long till I harvest it to send off for flasking??

[kmarch]

How about 4-6 months? Different catts will mature in different conditions at different rates. What's more important is that you ask the flasker when you should ship it. Some flaskers flask "green pod" meaning they want a pod before it is entirely mature, some flaskers want a ripe pod, even one that has split.

Tell your flasker what you have crossed and when you did the polination and they'll be able to tell you what they want and when it should be shipped.

My flasker wanted ripe dry pods. I took an empty teabag and put it over the pod and left it. The pod matured, has split, and is now ready to send off.

[awaxa]

Hi exasperatus2002,
As kmarch indicated, different cattleyas will mature in different conditions at different rates.
What you can do for all your crosses however is to begin observing the pod, after the shortest time has expired, for yellowing and drying of the stem of the pod. You can also check the pod to see when it begins to loose the shine and become dull in appearance. At that time it will be ready to be harvested for green pod germination.

Glen