Fdk. After Dark 'Sunset Valley Orchids'

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by 3rdMaestro

I have this same hybrid and its never bloomed for me. It just goes through the motions of putting off a new growth and eliminating the oldest one. Perhaps that is because I grow indoors? Any advice would be helpful.... If I can't get anything to happen, perhaps I should consider giving to someone who can take better care of it?

Mine sat around for about 10 years. Last year it finally bloomed - last pseudobulb was a monster.

Indoor growing shouldn't be a problem if it gets lots of light, especially during the growing season. I move my Catasetinae outside once nights warm up a bit, because the light is better outside. But if yours is good, the other factors are fertilizer and water while in active growth. I use time-release fertilizer and it helps. So... when in rapid growth the formula is "lots of everything" - sun, water (you can't overwater them during rapid growth) and fertilizer (feed more like a tomato than an orchid).

[3rdMaestro]

Ah, then it sounds like light is my problem. I've been backing it further and further away from the light because the plant gets so bushy, the leaves want to touch the light bulbs. Perhaps I should find a good outer pot (perhaps clay?) and stick it outside this summer. I have a tiny east facing porch where it might receive direct early morning light and then the cover of the porch would provide shade for the rest of the day

[Roberta]

They really need light just short of burning. Once nights warm to about 55 deg F. (13 deg C) or so, the ones that are ready to get watered start moving outside onto west-facing shelves over which I put 50% shade cloth (the area gets mid-day to western sun so is quite toasty) So protect from hot direct sun (early morning is fine) but don't shade too much during the day, just enough that intense sun is diffused.

[yug]

Nice blooms! Nice Kitty, too.

[SouthPark]

Just a couple more pics taken this morning. One showing some nice patterned-cherry colouring. And the other is taking advantage of the sunlight to get some nice colours too.

Google drive links (higher res) :

Pic 1 link
Pic 2 link