Fdk. After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' FCC/AOS

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Hawaiian Sunshine

Hi Ramon. Do you reduce watering after maturation or do you completely stop watering? Do you continue this until the flowers open? Thanks for the help.

Stop fertilizer and reduce watering first to allow leave to yellow and fall off, then I completely stop watering.. no more than 4-5 weeks in teh whole process...

[Hawaiian Sunshine]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Stop fertilizer and reduce watering first to allow leave to yellow and fall off, then I completely stop watering.. no more than 4-5 weeks in teh whole process...

Thanks Ramon. I'll give it a try especially on my After Dark plants. I understand this is a very difficult plant to bloom. I'm encouraged after seeing yours.

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Hawaiian Sunshine

Thanks Ramon. I'll give it a try especially on my After Dark plants. I understand this is a very difficult plant to bloom. I'm encouraged after seeing yours.

Difficult to bloom? who said that? if you give typical Catasetum care, it is actually pretty easy to bloom... at least my experience and of everyone I know who has this hybrid!

[jaxorchidman]

I agree with Ramón. If you give it a no watering rest from Jan to about June and then water the heck out of it and give it bright light it'll bloom. It likes to be quite warm also.

[Rowangreen]

For anyone who's interested, here's an example of the mutated version:

The UK Orchid Forum - with resources for the EU • View topic - Fredclarkeara After Dark 'Black Pearl' - my version

[kaede]

Beautiful black !

Got to find one of these ...