FREDCLARKEARA AFTER DARK 'BLACK PEARL' | LECA & SELF WATERING CARE

[@NinjaOrchids]

👕👚Fabulous Orchid Swag! 👇🏼🤩 Https:/Teespring.com/stores/ninja-orchids-3 🌸

[@frankieschmidtnj]

Wonderful display on the black pearl. I just bought my first black pearl here in South Florida, she's just a baby and I'm hoping to see her get blooms some day.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Frankie 🤩💐 welcome! I have not seen you here before, so a warm warm welcome and a massive thank you for being here and for watching the video 👊🏼 mine came as a baby as well, but after 2 years, it did this. So, baby is relative with this orchid and while you may not have as many blooms or double spikes, I am sure that you won't have to wait for years and years until you get to see your's in bloom and experience the most insane gorgeous fragrance of the orchid hobby. Incredible 🫢🤪 hope you are having a great Easter weekend, Frankie! If you are celebrating, Happy Easter, and if not... have yourself a great rest of the weekend regardless. Thank you so much for watching and once again, welcome 🫶🏼🌸

[@Orquideascristy]

It’s gorgeous ❤

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI Cristy 😍💐 LOVE this one as well!! And, her new spikes are starting to grow as I type 🥳 however, I will see how much she can handle this year, because not all the pseudobulbs plumped up again. If I feel a little squeamish about her loosing strength while she grows the spikes, I will cut them off. So, finger crossed that because the spikes are a month too premature to grow, that she can still absorb a lot of energy for me to let her bloom 👍🏼👍🏼 thank you so much for watching the video, lovely lady! I hope you had a wonderful day and wish you the same for the evening 🫶🏼❤️🌸

[@mariakarathanasi9799]

Bravo excellent!! sooooo beautiful,,have a great day.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Maria! 🤗💐 thank youuuuu! I am very very happy indeed 🤩 Thank you so very much for watching... I wish you a wonderful day as well! 🌸

[@Orchids365]

Wow 🤩! It’s so beautifully cared for and what lovely and full spikes. Enjoy my friend 😎.

[@NinjaOrchids]

🤸🏼‍♀️🙌🏼🤸🏼‍♀️🙌🏼🤗💐 she certainly has outdone herself with this first blooming! I feel a bit of pressure to see if I can repeat this for the coming year 😅 I love this spectacle! And the fragrance.. yeah... perfection! Thank YOU very very much for watching this video! Stay safe 🌸

[@EdsOrchids]

A very beautiful well cared for and very well cultivated. I'm not a lover of this type of 'coloured' bloom but I could make exceptions with this beauty. Thanks for showing my friend, Ed

[@NinjaOrchids]

Ed!! Hi!! 🤗💐 thank YOU for your kind comment, Ed! I really appreciate it! If you like the ginger biscuits you can buy in your area, I forget the brand, but that is the fragrance... all day long. It is so delicious. Meanwhile, I am enjoying the eyecandy 😅 I appreciate you watching! Thank you so very much 🌸 Have a lovely evening! 🌸

[@thegreenthumbspet9963]

Stunning blooms nina...the color is very unique...

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi there!! 🤗💐 thank you, Daren!! Thank you so very much!! I appreciate seeing you here... it is so kind of you to take the time to watch! 🥰🌸

[@ryeriz]

so beautiful!!!

[@NinjaOrchids]

Ryan! Hi! 🤗💐 How nice of you to leave a comment, and ... as I have not seen you here in my comments before, I am going to extend a warm warm welcome! Thank you for taking the time to watch, leave a comment and WELCOME!! 🌸

[@MamasOrchids]

OMG! Your latest bulb is huge, great job on it! Thanks for tips!

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi!! 😍💐 thank YOU so much for coming over and having a look see! She is a beast of an orchid, indeed... such fun growing these! 😃 Thank you very much for watching! 🌸

[@strawberrywine4445]

Beautiful! Well done!😊

[@NinjaOrchids]

😍😍🥰🤸🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️🙌🏼❤️💐 isn't she pretty?? Oh and she smells soooo gooood!!! Thank you, lovely, darling lady! Thank you so very very much for watching!! 😘😘🌸

[@richardlawton1023]

Thanks Nina. Ive got 10 Catasetum types. Im using vented plastic orchid pots. These are suspended inside the cheap ceramic pots you get with grocery store Phalinopsis. I put water in bottom to help with humidity. When it was time to water i raised the feed to touch the bottom of the pots. When feeding i pour the feed through 3 times. Being sure its touching the bottom of the pots. Every other watering i rinse. Seems to work well. Feeding at 300 ppm.

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI Richard 😍💐 thank YOU!! 10!! Mercy!! 🫣 🤣do they push you out of your home when they are all in active growth? 😆 wow! You have your care dialled in and wow, I cannot begin to imagine the bloom show when they come into bloom. Never mind the fragrances you get to enjoy! I love catasetinae... so much! Wish I had space for more. You would think with a patio that I could find the space, but nope... I don't have the space where they can also get some shade after being blasted with sun. 10!!! 😂 wow! Happy happy growing 💪🏼 thank you so much for watching, Richard! I so appreciate your support 🫶🏼 have a wonderful evening ❤️🌸

[@babyashy0802]

How exciting! It is beautiful indeed Ninja, congrats and enjoy the smell! I love it too 🤩

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Niury! 🤗💐 I am so sorry that I have not been to watch your video yet! I had a powercut this morning.... had to save my phone battery, just in case it was a bigger problem, so I have not watched any videos yet! I did go and grab your link real fast though, so my description is updated! Thank you so very much for joining in, for supporting the initiative! I really appreciate it! Yes... this fragrance is just out of this world!! 🌸

[@babyashy0802]

@@NinjaOrchids No worries Ninja! Hope your issue is solved fast! This was a challenge for me but I was stronger than my fears and did it 🤪

[@orchidgarden3124]

Stunning blooms!

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi there! 🤗💐 they really are! I am so happy to see this spectacle with my own eyes! It was a stressful couple of months to get these to bloom and not end up blasting on me ....if this is it's normal time of year to bloom, then, I have my work cut out for me every winter 💆🏼‍♀️💆🏼‍♀️😅 Thank you so very much for watching! I really appreciate it! Have a wonderful day 🌸

[@woowooone]

My husband surprised me today and told me that he bought one of these for me as well as two dendrobium aphyllum, and a dendrobium aggregatum!

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi 😍💐 OH! MY! GOODNESS!!! Scooooore!! 🙌🏼🤸🏼‍♀️🥳 I am so thrilled for you, as if it happened to me! That is wonderful 🙆🏼‍♀️💆🏼‍♀️ woohoo!!! 🙌🏼🤸🏼‍♀️ going dizzy with the cartwheels here, but what a treat! Amazing!! What a wonderful surprise!! I am so so happy for you! Thank you so much for watching 🫶🏼 thank you for sharing 🙌🏼🤸🏼‍♀️❤️🌸

[@marytonna6129]

Such a beauty! Thank you for sharing her beautiful blooms with us Nina. I can see you love her by the excitement in your voice! 🌺💓

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Mary 🤗💐 I am sooo happy, it was stressful through the winter months to not loose buds. Fluctuating temperatures, and then colder than usual... made my day to be able to do this video while I have something nice to show for! 🤩 Thank you so very much for your kind comment, Mary, and for watching, I really appreciate it. Have a wonderful day 🌸

[@marytonna6129]

@@NinjaOrchids your weather sounds a lot like ours these past weeks. It's been so cold even inside that my orchid buds seem to have slowed down their growth. Only one has started opening it's buds. Take care Nina 🤗🌺

[@KarinsOrchids]

What a smashing set of blooms! :-) I have seen folks on youtube using semi hydro setup for these guys...I think I will try it out with leca for a few of my mature catasetine type orchids as soon as I see new growth just to see the difference! Thanks for a beautiful informative CareCollab as usual Nina! Have a lovely day. Best regards from Karin

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Karin 🤗💐 really managed to pull the buds through the winter and I am so relieved 😅 I am sorry that I have not seen or commented on your video yet, I woke up to a powercut and was saving the phone battery for the eventuality of an electrician calling me. I have grabbed your link, though and updated my description accordingly 🤩 Thank YOU for joining in, once again, taking the time to film etc, I really appreciate it! Your support to this initiative is very very much appreciated as well 🥰🌸

[@KarinsOrchids]

@@NinjaOrchids Ahh I understand, no electricity theese days are really a cruicial thing. What it you hade a hybrid plugin car and had to leave home for for example an urgent visit at the hospital.. 🤧🥵

[@NinjaOrchids]

Exactly!! Or, as in our case, an electrical garage door... luckily we had a neighbor pass by to help lift it manually, if that had not been the case, we would have been stuck. I feel for everyone in the US now that are without power! 🥶🥶

[@KarinsOrchids]

@@NinjaOrchids 💗💗 fingers crossed it will be solved asp!!

[@primitivepalzor8836]

Beautiful 👏👏👍👍

[@NinjaOrchids]

Thank you!!! 🤸🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️🙌🏼 and for taking the time to watch! Thank you so very very much! Have a wonderful day 🌸

[@nereidatorres]

I just bought one!

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI Nereida 😍💐 congratulations!! That is exciting news and well, you are going to LOOOOOOVE growing this orchid 🥳 and it goes without saying, you are going to LOOOOVE the blooms and the fragrance! So excited for you and thank you for letting me know, as well as thank you for watching 🫶🏼 hope your day was fabulous! ❤️🌸

[@MrAlesoreus]

Yo! A picture speaks a 1k words, stunning output for your input. That plant is on my wishlist, oddly enough I'm yet to stumble upon it here in the states.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi!! 🙌🏼🤩💐 thank you! I really appreciate your kind comment! Thank you so very much. I am surprised that you would not have easy access to this one in the states... the source is 'right there'... I will keep my fingers crossed that you find it 🤞🏼 Thank you, so much, for your kind support!! Have a wonderful day 🌸

[@MrAlesoreus]

@@NinjaOrchids You are correct, you would think Fred Clarke would have some on his site "SVO" but its been out of stock for some time and I rather get it directly from the man who hybridized it. Happy growing

[@simplyorchidsetc.2]

How cute thank you for sharing it's very informative. Have a great day keep safe and happy growing : )

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi there!! 🤗💐 Thank you so very much for watching! It was absolutely my pleasure to be able to film this and while in bloom, so... I appreciate you watching! 🥰 have yourself a wonderful day as well!! 🌸

[@scottdevito8421]

Fredclarkeara After Dark produces flowers with both male and female parts (perfect flowers) whereas Catasetum can produce male female or both. I think one of the genus that makes up this intergeneric hybrid imparts the 'perfect flower' trait, possibly Clowesia. I hope that makes sense I don't sound too bossy lol. Lovely blooms and video as usual!

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Scott! 🤗💐 I am rewriting this comment, so, if you get a similar one, then, my apologies, for some reason, I cannot see that I have already replied to you! I was saying that, not bossy at all... I appreciate comments, the likes of which you write, because it clarifies points I don't explain clearly, points that I do not know, information that may be incomplete etc. So, I appreciate you for leaving an informative comment... hope that people read the comments to benefit from such information 👍🏼👍🏼 I appreciate your support, and welcome comments like these! Thank you so very much, also for watching. Wishing you a wonderful day 🌸

[@FernandaNascimentoOrchids]

🦒💐🤸☀️!!! It is real beauty and the best blooming you could expect this far. I would not divide either, imagine what the blooming will be next year with a larger PSB 🤩. The bungundy splash in the center makes the flowers a lot more attractive . Very very beautiful and happy plant. It certainly took its time but it was worth it. Enjoy your lovely blooms and the uplifting fragrance and have a great day my dear Rafiki yangu, mingi hugggssss to you 🤗🤗❤️😘. I got the ad, very fast and swift, you hardly notice it, just to let you know.🤸🤩

[@NinjaOrchids]

FFF 🙌🏼🤸🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️🥰🤗💐 a big relief to see that only one bud blasted... it was very stressful and if that is the timing for this one to bloom every year, then I have my work cut out for me 😅 the longer the spikes got, the more pot tetris I was playing. She really smells divine! So hard to film or photograph... and overnight, the big bulb started to shrivel, so, I just gave it a big flush. I woke up to a powercut this morning! So... was doing lots of other stuff before I could sit down and do YT housekeeping. My rhythm is a little off kilter today, but, I can still enjoy some temperatures that are agreeable, despite now not being able to film anything. Tomorrow will be a busy day so that I can catch up. Thank you for your email, I will reply later today 😍 Have yourself a beautiful day, meine liebe Freundin! Your support is so very much appreciated! ❤️🌸

[@dianeandorchidsatvictorharbor]

I have a couple of 'Black Pearls'. They are very small so I'm not expecting flowers for a least 2, maybe even 3 years. Not even sure how many years they need before they could bloom! At the moment they both seem to be going ok, nice green leaves which started growing October 2020, I've yet to see roots at the very bottom of the pot but I know there are long roots in there. I'm resisting watering too much, a little bit, edge of the pot, maybe every 10 days / 2 weeks, if the moss is really dry, but it tends to make me wonder if I'm not watering enough. 🤦‍♀️ At this stage I'll be happy if they make it through to dormancy and then I can start my watering anxiety all over again!

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Diane 🤗💐 Judging by what you are telling me, I think that you need to start watering more often. If your's are little, then help them along. Even if you do not use any fertilizer, I would double the water frequency. Also, it must be quite hot where you are at 😬 I just looked at my bulb that has the spikes on it, and it looked at little more wrinkled than yesterday, and poured water through it. Some people keep their catasetums permanently wet, but I guess that would apply to the mature ones. I hope that your's will bloom sooner than 2 years. Thank you, Diane, for taking the time to watch... I really appreciate it. Enjoy your beautiful climate ... jelly here 😅 🌸

[@AngelLerinsCollections]

How I wish to have ones. those beautiful one madam!

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Angel! 🤗💐 I am biased, but... if you can find one, do not hesitate to buy it! It is worth the time and effort. It is a very special fragrance, as well as beautiful blooms, so... I hope that you are able to find one for your collection! I really appreciate you taking the time to watch this video and leave such a kind comment! Thank you so much! Have a beautiful day, Angel 🌸

[@hy123bh4]

So beautiful!Do the flower buds need sunlight to grow?😁

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi! 🤩💐 welcome! I have not seen you here before, so a warm warm welcome and a big thank you for being here, I really appreciate it! Once this orchid looses the leaves and the spikes start, it does not need sunlight for it to bloom out. During the season it is growing yes, a LOT of light, but not when the spikes form. If you are in climate where the weather is mild enough and the orchid goes dormant while it can live outside, then light is great, but it is not a must. Mine has to develop the buds indoors where it does not get additional light, and still, it does this 👍🏼 a great orchid with not just fabulous blooms, but an amazing fragrance! Really appreciate you watching, and once again...welcome, I hope you stay 🤗🌸

[@lizandanorexia8827]

Adorable Looking x

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Liz! 🤗💐 thank you! I saw your reply to a comment I made in the other video, I will get back to you with some info!! Thank you so very much for watching. Wishing you a wonderful day 🌸

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Liz!! I found this web site... for orchids in your country... maybe there is something here that you will find useful?? canadianorchidcongress.ca/vendors/ it even specifies provinces... 🤞🏼 if you would like me to dig further, then please feel free to let me know 🌸

[@lizandanorexia8827]

@@NinjaOrchids Amazing xxx Thank You x

[@orchidsbythelake]

I actually wanted this one rather than my MMM... smaller! Very nice info. I still don’t know how you could successfully knowing when to water! Lol if I kill my cat types, I am done...😑

[@NinjaOrchids]

Yoshi San!! 🤗💐 the weight of the pot... I know the weight of this one after the bulbs of the season matured. I know that now it is much heavier because of the blooms, but, once they are gone, the 'new' weight of the pot, without blooms, without water in the leca etc etc, will show me when it is time to water. I can monitor the new growth, and the weight that comes with the new growth, and I know by lifting the pot, how the inside of the pot feels different. There is a different feel to the ratio of what is going on above as opposed to how it feels below. My starting weight will be when the spikes are gone. I know that it doesn't help, much, as I am going by feel, but, that is my way of 'knowing'. Thank you so very much for taking the time to watch, I really appreciate it! I hope that you and your family are not experiencing any power outages! 🌸

[@NicoleDeanna]

Your blooms look fantastic on this one Nina! Man, those SVO Catasetums are amazing. Fred is a master hybridizer. This is a good care collab. I find that Catasetums are some of the most misunderstood orchids, but once you have the dormancy requirements down, they are so easy and vigorous. Maybe next year I'll try them in leca. I grow them in moss because they are spidermite magnets and I have to dunk them upside down a lot over my sink and fear getting leca pellets all over.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Nicole 🥰💐 thank you Nicole, for your kind comment, and yes, I have to agree with you on the master hybridizer... he does the crosses, we have to get the culture right to make them do what he wanted them to do! I see your point why sphagnum moss works for you... I am lucky that I can spray them every day when in active growth to somehow get the happy sap under control.... I am also lucky that i have not had any spidermites on mine given that my climate is so hot and dry... the daily spraying, to control the happy sap is probably the key to not given spider mites a good environment. Thank you so very much for watching, Nicole! I hope that you wake up to a wonderful day 🌸

[@yingzheng782]

So happy she blooms beautifully. I have a FDK afterdark, she has a fat cane, I did not do water tapering and there is no spike developed. Is stop watering the required condition for flower spike? Thank you

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI! 😍💐 welcome! I have not seen you here before, so a warm warm welcome and a big thank you for being here, for watching and commenting. I truly appreciate your time and support 🫶🏼 I have to know the answer to the following questions in order for me to trouble shoot why your After Dark is not blooming, because to stop watering is not the reason. Mine is in a semi hydroponic set up and the roots are always damp, even when the orchid looses it's leaves. So, if you would be so kind to tell me the following: How old is your After Dark? How many big bulbs does it have? Which part of the world are you located in? Has your After Dark ever gone dormant? (it is not a must that these hybrids have to go dormant, but I am curious) How much light do you give your it? Did you buy your's as blooming size? What media are you using? And anything else you can tell me with regards to the conditions you have where you grow your After Dark would be very helpful! Thank you! I am sorry to ask so many questions, but they are necessary if I am going to be of any help at all 😬 in the meantime, thank you for being here and welcome! 🫶🏼❤️🍀

[@yingzheng782]

@@NinjaOrchids thank you so much for such detailed instructions. I am having this plant for three years. It was 1 inch tall from seller. Now the biggest bulb is 5 inch, very plump, second big cane 3 inch. I am in NYC, using bark at the bottom and moss surrounding the roots. The plant was outdoor whole summer having scattered sun and at windowsill in winter with bright light. I watered it every other day during summer, but definately got it bone dried sometimes. It went dormant last year from Feb to April. This year, it just lost all leaves having a new growth already. I can see one knob (looks like spike)on the biggest cane, but it never grows bigger.

[@NinjaOrchids]

@@yingzheng782 ok! Thank you so very much for taking the time to respond. That bump on the side of the cane is a flower spike that tried. Why it did not progress, I can only guess that it was not ready yet. Much like some cattleyas have blind sheaths as they mature into blooming size. IF it still pushes the spike, then you have to let me know because that would be extraordinary. Now that you have a new growth starting, I think the plant is going to forget about the spike and focus on growing the new growth. But, if you keep doing what you have been doing with it in the past, this coming season, your After Dark will bloom for you in the coming winter. Even though you grew a great bulb, I think it has 30% more in it for the next bulb to be blooming size. Merhinks near blooming size is where your's is at. They need a lot of stored energy to bloom and to have a second larhe bulb 'only' 3 inches may not have been enough. But, again, should that spike start progressing the coming months as you start watering when the new growth leafs out, please please let me know. It would be great intel to have 😃 sorry for any typos. I dont do well with small screens and autocorrect hates me 😅

[@yingzheng782]

@@NinjaOrchids super helpful! Yes, will keep you updated. Throw is my first Catasetum, I am so into it now, but hesitate to get more plants. Will get this one work first. Love your videos, explain at the points clearly! ❤️

[@NinjaOrchids]

🫶🏼

[@gloriastanley5854]

Do you sell any of your black pearl when you dived them ?

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Gloria 😍💐 welcome! I have not seen you here before, so first of all, a warm warm welcome and secondly, thank you so much for watching, for your time and comment. Yes, I do sell bulbs when I divide my catasetinae. However, the last divisions were 2 years ago and I think that she will not be divided for another 2 years. Seeing as it took a full season for her to recover from her division, I would like to grow her back to strength before I go in again. This way, any divisions will also be a success for the recipient. The past recipient should be getting their's to bloom at the end of this year and the divisions had no problems in establishing themselves. If you are in Europe, and are still interested after such a long period of time, please let me know and I will take note of your interest so that I won't forget when the time comes. 😊 Thank you, again, for watching 🫶🏼 I hope your day is going beautifully for you and WELCOME! ❤️🌸

[@ruhaneyalifa9429]

Thank you for the tips ☺️. But I have one question about the types of catasetum orchids that bloom during dormancy. Do I continue to water them when they are blooming during dormancy? Or do I have to stop watering all together?

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Ruhaney 🤗💐 welcome!! I have not seen your name before, so... a warm warm welcome!! 🥰 If the bulb which is blooming starts to look schrivelled, then give the orchid some water, not to soak the media, but to let the roots absorb some water. In my case, being in leca, my watering during the blooming stage, would be a good flush though with 2 litres of plain water. That gives the roots enough to restore the blooming bulb. If it is just the back bulbs that are shrivelling, then that is normal, and acceptable. The blooming bulb is your marker. The orchid uses energy from the back bulbs to bloom, so, you know that, when the bulb that is blooming, starts to shrivel, then, the energy coming from the back is not sufficient, so... give it some water, and then let dry out again. If the bulb that is blooming remains shrivelled, then do not let the media in the pot dry out for too long, but water as you would normally do, so that the energy is not lost for the new growth to come sometime later in the season. I hope this answers your question. Let me know... if I can clarify any further 👍🏼 Thank you so very much for watching, I really appreciate it! And again, a very warm welcome! 🌸

[@woowooone]

How can you tell the difference between female and male blooms?

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi 😍💐weeeeelllll... how much time do you have? 😬 female catasetinae blooms are considered ugly! They are mainly bulky and green. The spike is much more sturdy to carry them and there are not many blooms. They have a Little House on the Prairie look to me as they have a very hard textured bonnet. ... if you are curious... here is a link kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2HMqmWPlKyjidU my Jack of Diamonds is now growing a spike which will be female blooms and eventually, during the winter the male blooms will follow. Just in case you are interested to see the blooms and decide for yourself if they are unattractive. Personally, I find them so funky that they have their own charm 😅 then again, I like my weirdo Neostylis Lou Sneary with all it's wonky deformed blooms. Never a dull moment, which I appreciate 😃 thank you so very much for watching 🫶🏼 I hope you are having a fabulous Friday ❤️🌸

[@bobgrohmer4189]

Do you know where I can buy one of these orchids currently in bloom or bud?

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Bob! 🤩💐 welcome!! I have not seen you here before, so... thank you so much for your comment, for watching and welcome!! 👍🏼 oh... that is a question that I have to answer with, probably no where this time of year. These bloom in winter, so, now we are heading into fall in the N'ern hemisphere and spring in the S'ern hemisphere. I don't think that Fred Clarke himself has any more of these in his nursery. The only place I can think of, if you are in the US, would be to ask Fred Clark at Sunset Valley Orchids, in CA . Gosh, I am sorry that I cannot be of substantial help, Bob! 🙆🏼‍♀️ I will keep my fingers crossed that I am so wrong and that Fred Clark will say... yes, I have one 🤞🏼🤞🏼 in Europe... I doubt anyone has one in bloom! Thank you so much for watching this video!! Really appreciate your time, and once again, welcome! Have a wonderful Saturday 🌸

[@bobgrohmer4189]

@@NinjaOrchids Thank you very much my friends!

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

So, how ironic that I decided to make gingerbread and then this video comes out. A lot of my Catasetinae are breaking dormancy, so it is the waiting game for them to push their roots and leaf out. Now if that damn FDK Enter Light doesn't bloom this year, I'm really going to throw it out. There is absolutely no reason it shouldn't have bloomed last year, the bulb was plenty big enough, it was in the same light as the others that bloomed. One last year to do something, it is on warning. And you're absolutely correct, the water needs jump dramatically when that last leaf has formed and it starts the bulb building process. If they go dry once they reach that stage, for even a day, you will see the old bulbs shrivel immediately. And that's when you really have to watch, because that is when they are most likely to decide to just absorb older bulbs to focus on the new. IME, the more bulbs you can keep on the plant, the more new growths and subsequent blooms you will get (up to a point, there comes a time when splitting them is needed to rejuvenate the plant).

[@NinjaOrchids]

Don Miguel!! 🥰💐, Hi!! I felt the warning to your Enter Light, from all the way over here!! ⚠️😆 I would bloom too, now! 😅 I hope it feels your energy and does bloom for you this time around! I woke up to a power cut! On a beautiful sunny day, here in Espain! A powercut! I think that the providers saw the news in the US and thought... hey! We can do that too!! 🤨 what an inconvenience, I tell you! I threw my filming plans out the window, and did other stuff which needed to be done, but didn't need electricity... babied the battery on my phone! I let my laptop deplete it's battery on purpose last night, just to do what supposedly is necessary for battery health, and yeah... the joy!! 🤬 I mean, I did get stuff done, but.. my head is all gaga now, because my rhythm is all out of sync, ... there is no point in trying to film anything, I can hardly focus on replying to comments in a decent way! I have become such a creature of habit since cooties started, .. this has thrown me for a loop! And guess what? It is a quiet day 'out there'... no wind! Perfect filming weather, but to speak coherently and not become some narrating lunatic, ... that is impossible. So... yay! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Lets see how many new growths this one decides to put out this season. I saw the blooming bulb getting a little shrivelled this morning, so I gave it a good flush. My goodness, the whole lower part of the house smells of ginger now! 🤪 Like your's does now, that you made ginger bread 🤩 Thank you for watching, Michael!! Have yourself a wonderful day .... Enter Light... Bloom, or you will soon be Exit Light!! 😎

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

@@NinjaOrchids oh, I understand the anxiety of not being able to do things in the order in which they are supposed to be done. I used to get thrown so out of whack if I was late getting into the office. I was a jittery mess the whole day. My boss felt I needed medication. I tell you, springtime has come early round these parts, so much in bloom or spike. I'm ecstatic this morning, the Zygo I bought from SVO last year is finally producing a spike. Now if some of the others would follow suit, that would be even better.

[@NinjaOrchids]

@@michaelmccarthy4077 as much as ot sucks to hear that you have the same experiences, I feel a bit comforted by the thought that I am not alone in that regard! 🌸

[@lilylimbu505]

May I have your email address. I have recently bought (4) tiny posts of black pearl Catesetum. I need your advice and help with regard to fertilizer to be given to them and the amount of sunlight and water as well. Thanks very much in advance. I am from Myanmar, South East Asia. 🙏❣️

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Lily 😍💐 welcome! I have not seen you here before, so a warm warm welcome and a massive thank you for being here and for watching 🫶🏼 your support is truly appreciated 🙏🏼 please forward me images of the bulbs that you have, with some size comparison object next to them. Close ups of the base, the whole bulb, if they are potted up then with the pot as well. In the email, please include your growing conditions, especially your humidity and temperature ranges. That will go a long way to help with me being able to help. I have an orchid detail form which you can fill out for your convenience, its a service I offer and allows you to upload images as well. The questionnaire will walk you through all the details that I need to know in order to help out. forms.gle/kVGDD4cWdbMh2w9q8 I will be on the lookout for the filled out form! I hope you are having a wonderful day 🫶🏼❤️🌸