Catasetum Hybrid
 

Ctsm. pileatum v. imperale 'SVO Blood Red' X Ctsm. Brent's Black Hawk 'SVO'

I picked this one up when I got my After Dark. Second time it's bloomed this year and I'm very happy with it considering I bought it sight unseen. It was very happy to be outside this summer producing a pseudobulb about three times the size of the other ones before it. Will be interesting to see if it actually goes dormant this winter as it didn't last winter, just kept putting out new pseudobulbs.

interesting about it not going dormant. I have read that you need to force dormancy by not watering and removing leaves by end Dec. Lets see what other people say. Lack of dormancy doesn't seem to have "hurt" your plant.

Last August or so I thought it was spiking, but it was a new growth and everyone I asked said to just keep watering it, so I did, then a few months later it sent out another growth... By that time the weather was nice enough for me to put it outside and that growth spiked and got huge. I think once these blooms fade I'll stop watering it or taper off and then stop.

Wow! Fabulous!

Can you post a picture of your after dark in bloom? I have ordered one but they said that this was a none bloomer yet and the flower blooms were considered unknown. I can't wait until next year if there is a chance I may be able to get it to spike! My Frilly Doris is looking like it is wanting to send out a spike still in the early faze was wondering the same thing. Great growing this flower is so so pretty.

in the meantime this is the breeder's site
Sunset Valley Orchids - Superior Hybrids for Orchid Enthusiasts
scroll down the page and you can see catalogue pictures

AWESOME!!!

---------- Post added at 09:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 PM ----------

Oh man I should have never looked! The parents look so pretty!!

My after dark Black Pearl is in double spike now, probably won't be open till November but I'll post pictures when it opens. It bloomed last December, beautiful glossy black flowers. When light shines through them you can see that they are actually a deep deep red. And it has a very faint scent, some say eucalyptys and I'd say that sounds about right. They're expensive, but I highly recommend them.

That one was outside too this whole summer and it got huge, I'll definitley be putting them out next year too.

@^that is so awesome! Wish I could put mine out but the grasshoppers find them super tasty. May move them to a south facing window see if I can get them to grow bigger.

Can you make like a little screen tent or something for it?