(Mo. Painted Desert SVO HCC x Ctsm. Donna Wise Kathleen AM/AOS)
This is a famous and hugely awarded near black orchid hybrid cross from Sunset Valley Orchids in California.
The cross comes from Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS (Morm. sinuata ‘SVO’ HCC/AOS x Cl. Rebecca Northen ‘Grapefruit Pink’), which is a secondary hybrid that has deep red flowers with darker red stripes, well-shaped flowers on pendent inflorescences. The other parent, Ctsm. Donna Wise Kathleen AM/AOS (Ctsm. Orchidglade x Ctsm. tenebrosum), adds additional color from the tenebrosum and assures large flower size.
Awarded FCC/AOS for flowers that are fragrant (smells of cinnamon/ginger candy), excellent form, unique amazing color, that often last over 6 weeks (unheard of for Catasetinae)!
The flower quality of this hybrid orchid plant has been exceptional that is blooming out nicely for me; giving me fourteen robust flowers in a long cascading spike ( I had to use a 18 inches glass vase as a lift yet the tip is still touching the bottom). The flowers have colors ranging from a dark purplish brown fuchsia pink spotty flower to almost black that can vary its coloring on each spike and by different light (indoors or outdoors).
I got this plant two years ago with a large cane that just have bloomed and I am lucky to get two very healthy canes with it, with excellent roots and I was informed that this came from plants which have been flowering for at least the past few years.
I will be doing divisions after the blooms are gone and start the rest period by withholding water, but I will water once a month or once every two months, if I see the canes starting to shrivel….watering regularly during the dormant period can cause the bulbs to rot. I only start watering when the new growth's roots are three inches or longer then I water it and feed it fertilizer (K-lite and seaweed mix) a lot when in its growing period in the warmer months.
This is potted in sawdust mix recommended by Euplusia which is working for all my Catasetinae.
Fdk. After Dark 'Sunset Valley Orchids' FCC/AOS
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