Fdk After Dark ‘SVO Black Pearl’ FCC/AOS
(Mo. Painted Desert ‘SVO’ HCC x Ctsm. Donna Wise ‘Kathleen’ AM/AOS)
My Orchids
Look who I found sunning himself in the pot!
I have two of these orchids. The original is from White Plains Orchids and I have since divided it, just for fun. Neither has bloomed for me so far Pictures of flowers are taken from other sources. See better pix on orchidweb.com, which is my very favorite orchid seller on the net. I grow these orchids outdoors in bright light all summer. Next summer I’ll try more fertilizer and some direct sun. I hope they will bloom for me. I love black orchids!
History and Features
The Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' is a stunning hybrid orchid that produces dramatic, nearly black flowers with a velvety texture and subtle deep burgundy undertones. Multiple large blooms emerge on each spike, creating an impressive display, and the dark flowers stand out dramatically against the plant's compact green foliage.
This is an easy-to-grow hybrid orchid producing 10-20 flowers per spike. These product cascading displays of long-lasting flowers, which can number up to fifteen on a single spike. Fred Clarke of sunsetvalleyorchids.com, who developed this hybrid, is always developing new and interesting hybrids of various species. He sells the young ones for very reasonable prices. This is the first nearly black orchid he ever created.
Culture
Catasetenae require different care than many other orchids. In the fall or winter they will drop their leaves, often before they bloom. I advise watching numerous video tutorials so you can decide the best protocol for your environment. Here’s a good one to get you started.
Water and Fertilizer
Active Growth (Spring-Fall)
In summer they like a lot of water but don’t let them sit in water
During the growth season, from around June to September they grow like weeds and need lots of fertilizer, 1 tsp per gallon once per week, or weaker if you water more often.
After repotting you can sprinkle slow-release fertilizer. MSU or oscmocote will work. Then fertilize during growth as usual.
Winter Dormancy
Drastically reduce or stop watering
Around December 1st stop watering completely
Resume when new growth starts
Fred Clarke advises not watering until roots are at least 6-8 inches long.
Potting and Media
Catasetum orchids are fairly forgiving and will grow in a variety of media
Medium bark (1/2 inch) with perlite, pure sphagnum moss or other well-draining media
Plastic or clay pots both work. The PET method has become very popular, although I have not tried it. Check out this tutorial on YouTube.
Additional Notes
Deciduous - loses leaves in winter
Heavy feeder during growing season
Stop fertilizing when growth slows, around October
Watch for spider mites on their leaves during the growing season. Treat them immediately or they can do a lot of damage. I sprayed mist directly into and between the leaves of all my catasetenae this summer to keep them at bay. They attack the leaves, so you won’t have issues once those drop.
Flowers last 4-6 weeks
