Fredclarkeara After Dark 'sunset valley orchids'
 

I've had 2 pots of these outdoors and they are each probably at least double the size of last year's growths.
Each have new growths almost 12in tall. I've never seen such huge growths. The secret ? I don't know except to say the bottom 1/3 of the pots are composted horse manure and I believe I have tended to 'overwater' them this time around. Illinois weather must have also contributed.
Hoping for a fantastic bloom display from these. My millennium magic are already spiking on smaller bulbs than last year ! Weird.
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Wow - good growing!
*goes off to google local stables*

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That growth is gigantic, and I'm super jealous. One question though. Do you have just straight bark over the layer of manure? I tried a moss mix in plastic this year and one of my catasetums aborted the growth because it couldn't dry out fast enough.

The pot is about 8in deep. The top 2/3 is power-sized orchiata bark with a handful of moss and a handful of small charcoal mixed in. The deeper pot retains moisture longer as orchiata tends to be on the dry side. However it is possible to grow these in various media; the trick is to grow them well and fast.

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True. I have this NoID growing in fine pumice, and it's going great guns (even after having aborted it's first growth this year):
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...and my Ctsm. Fanfair Shawna Austin has just finished a rather spectacular 3-spike display. I repotted this in chunky pumice a couple of years ago. Last year it produced 2 spikes, then refused to go dormant. Last year's leaves finally yellowed when this year's 3 growths were almost fully mature. However, the pumice now seems to only be a base support - it's essentially growing on itself!
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...e4edf9acce.jpg


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Mine haven't dried out since I started watering around Memorial Day. The new growths will die off if you get water in them when they're small. Don't water until the roots are 4" or longer. The new growth is usually big enough to handle watering by then. If in doubt about when to start watering, wait an additional two weeks before watering.

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:53 PM ----------

This look VERY well grown!

Sweet. I hope it puts on a good show for you

Very Awesome! My grandmother put horse manure on her asparagus beds growing up and her garden when I was growing up her garden flourished. Good luck and can't wait to see the spikes you may get.

Thanks all. Here's to hoping for great spikes....
BTW, after falling from a tree 3x due to the weight of the pot - a distance of about 3 feet - I've had to put it into another pot that's on a table ( per picture ). It amazes me that these can "fall" with minimal damage. Like a cat, always lands on its feet....hahaha...

in bloom. Lovely fragrance in the sun.
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