Some advice needed with Catasetinaes and dormancy period

[Manu]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

I have started moving my dark blooming Catasetinae when the spike is developing to a much lower light area. I usually do this once I start to see some buds form, and while the spike does seem to develope more slowly this way, the black color comes out much richer. Haven’t had any problems yet with buds blasting.
For reference, I grow mine in full morning and afternoon sun, that get shading for a few hours mid-day from a 50% shade cloth. When I start to see buds they get moved to indirect light only.
I couldn’t find pics of my Fdk. After Dark for a comparison but these are two pics of my Monn. Millennium Magic ‘Witchcraft’. The first picture is when I forgot to take it out of its normal growing light. The second pic is from this year when I moved it

Wow that is an amazing color difference!! Is this strictly related to light or other factors might of influenced the color?? That doesn't even look like the same plant!! This is reassuring, I'm probably gonna move them to my other windowsill that gets low indirect light once the spike has developed a bit more... thanks :-)

---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Is it possible to add supplimental light at the other windows?

That would cost me a divorce! Kidding... Not kidding.. I'd rather not risk it!

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by Manu

Wow that is an amazing color difference!! Is this strictly related to light or other factors might of influenced the color?? That doesn't even look like the same plant!! This is reassuring, I'm probably gonna move them to my other windowsill that gets low indirect light once the spike has developed a bit more... thanks :-)[COLOR="Silver"]

Yep, same plant, grown in the same temps, same humidity levels, same water and fertilizer regiment, just a year older in the second picture. The flower shape did come out a little different as well. Maybe that could have to do with how long it took the spike to develope or just the fact that it was in lower light (I like the twisty “goblin” shape of the second picture better anyways I haven’t noticed a difference in flower shape of my Fdk. After Dark). When it was kept in high light, normal growing conditions, the spike developed in about 6-7 weeks and all buds opened within days of each other. When it was kept in very low, indirect light the two spikes took about 9 weeks to fully develope and almost 2 weeks after that for every bud to open. Hilariously, and appropriately, the last bud fully opened on Halloween this year
So it was definitely a bit longer but well worth the wait.

And btw, your plants look super healthy and well grown!

[Manu]

One last question. What's the lowest temperature that something like an FDK afterdark black pearl could tolerate while forming it's spike. I don't want the spike to stall or buds to blast. I'll put my hygrometer in the windowsill but suspect it can fall to 10C on very cold nights. With a 0C outdoor temp I get 16C in the windowsill. I suspect that at -10C I'd probably get 10-12C