Black Orchid: Fdk After Dark Trade Project

[mariane]

By the way how did this Black Orchid turn out and how can i get a bulb?

[jay]

I missed out again on the flowering.

My large bulb is starting a new growth right now. It is already about an inch tall. I will wait a few more weeks before I start watering it. Maybe next year. Not sure why I can't get it to bloom. It is full size.

Good news is it is healthy and ready to go crazy.

[sruane]

My trade bulb from Zuri has just started a new growth as well, while my original bulb is just sitting there dormant I assume.

[Leathal]

mmmmmmmmm....I just got one from Jay. Maybe I should check it out. Last I looked I didn't see any new growth..dang it...lol

[frostychic]

Originally Posted by zuri

Awww, hello guys! Sorry to leave you all hanging like that for so long... I've been busy and don't know where all the time went! The flowers started opening Monday and are now fully open, ready for their first photography session.

They're spotted. I'm mostly pleased as punch, but must admit that I'm just a wee bit disappointed. I think that's why I've held off posting the picture. The outsides of the flowers showed possible/probable spotting about 2-3 weeks ago. They're still stunning and look almost black from a distance. Got 10 flowers in all.

Thanks for your interest and support - and here's to the project! Can't wait for someone else's to bloom. This project reminds me of finding and breaking open geods as a child... never know what you're going to find inside! ... Now I just need to get Jay's bulb to bloom to get this adventure started all over again

I'm just now catching up with this thread in its entirety... I had began to read it way back when I first started posting here but really know much back then (still don't, HA!) and now that I come back to this I just want to say...

Zuri, that bloom is absolutely beautiful. I know many folks are really after the black but my opinion from just looking at the photos on-line is that the spotted blooms are more interesting and I'd be thrilled beyond thrilled to have one like yours. Congrats!

Now on to Jay... I read in the "for sale" section here on OG that you may have already sold all of these you had offered? Is that true or do you have any left? IF you have any left, I'd like one please... I'm going to PM you.

[Irene]

frostychic, if jay is indeed out of babies, the Geeks who got one will have divisions to share in the near future. I'm sure we can keep trading them around.

[berkeleysgr8]

I'm hoping we'll have plenty of Orchidgeek divisions in the next few years! Very exciting!

[penangirl]

been a while, two months after forcing hybernation, my after dark mo. painted destertx donna wise 'susan' remake, began to spike, i wasnt sure so i contacted fred and he assured me it was a spike and to keep on not feeding and watering and i would be seeiing flowers,but it takes a while.
two weeks later the spike is arching with at least 8 baby buts about a half inch each, no sighn of spotting, keeping my fingers crossed.

[mariane]

Is there anyone out there who can share a bulb? ooops i meant sell a bulb? How I envy you all!

[penangirl]

BLACK ORCHID>she looks like shes going to be black. the 8 buds on the arching spike on after dark mo. painted destert x donna wise 'susan' remake, are as dark as can be with no sighns of spotting. this plant i was told was not going to flower until next year but i guess she was happy. \
i was thinking of bringing it to the longwoood show to get judged. is this ok to do. it would be my first time bringing a orchid to get judged. would such a young fredclareara with 8 black flowers have a chance to be scored well or maybe even be awarded?

[penangirl]

Fredclarkeara after dark mo. painted destertx donna wise 'susan' remake, has eight buds, looking darker and darker each day.lookin pretty black.
i dont want to get ahead of myself but would it be to early in the plants young life (first bloom) to bring it to be judjed

[tocarmar]

Originally Posted by penangirl

BLACK ORCHID>she looks like shes going to be black. the 8 buds on the arching spike on after dark mo. painted destert x donna wise 'susan' remake, are as dark as can be with no sighns of spotting. this plant i was told was not going to flower until next year but i guess she was happy. \
i was thinking of bringing it to the longwoood show to get judged. is this ok to do. it would be my first time bringing a orchid to get judged. would such a young fredclareara with 8 black flowers have a chance to be scored well or maybe even be awarded?

As far as I know Yes you can take it to be Judged, as long as a few of the flowers are all the way open. GOOD LUCK!!! I will be at Longwood on Sat.

[Leathal]

Originally Posted by penangirl

Fredclarkeara after dark mo. painted destertx donna wise 'susan' remake, has eight buds, looking darker and darker each day.lookin pretty black.
i dont want to get ahead of myself but would it be to early in the plants young life (first bloom) to bring it to be judjed

Make sure you put pics up when they open! Can't wait to see.

[exasperatus2002]

Good luck with that! I'll be there friday morning. Hope to see it there.

[trinigirl]

How awesome, I really hope it is black and that you can get it judged. Congrats on the bloom!

[berkeleysgr8]

Any new open flower pics penangirl? We wanna see more! *smile*

[maria1971]

Wow, that looks gorgeous!

[psyc1210]

Would love to see how the 'original' Fdks are doing!

[LauraGR]

This is from my Orchid Society of Minnesota chapter meeting last Saturday. It was quite lovely!
[IMG][/IMG]

[jay]

Thought mine was going to bloom this past winter, but again it just keeps growing and not blooming.

Did anyone else get one to bloom?

[Aceetobe]

There are some that have to get ginormous before blooming. See Brent Bakers pics. This was the first blooming, plant came from Freds original cross. I think Brent and Jaime were the only two that got a seedling other than Fred. Maybe someone like Frank Smith got one too.

[plantloverlisa]

It would be nice to see an update of all of them, even with out blooms.

[mayres]

Mama mia!!!!!!! Do you have any idea when this plant first bloomed? That is fabulous! I don't think I'll live long enough to get my little tiny one to that size!

[Aceetobe]

That actually was the first bloom. So I guess that plant was like 7 years old when taken. If the bulbs aren't doubling to tripling in size every year, you're not growing them well. Some flower on much smaller, but that is obviously clonal dependent. Brent grows in optimal conditions, and its possible that that clone didn't feel the need to flower.

He grows about 8000FC (so 20% shade cloth) in a place where there is nothing but sun 95% of the year. Its also humid humid humid, and doesn't go below I think 65 or 70 at night during the summer and 55 during the winter. I'm guessing it gets up to 100F in his catasetum house. They love it. More sun = consuming more water = you can fertilize and water more often. I believe that plant split the pot this year, and thats a gallon pot filled with sphagnum. It consumes so much water it will almost be dry after 24 hours.

[Aceetobe]

His photostream can be found here. I can't take credit, he's a much better grower than I am.

Brent's orchids

He certainly knows how to grow them

[mayres]

WOW! Thanks again for sharing the pictures. I have a totally new appreciation for these plants compared to before checking out your thread.

[plantloverlisa]

Holey Moley!!!! He is the catasetum king.

[NiNiDazzle]

This thread made me reallllllly want a FDK After Dark. I'm afraid of how big they get though.

[Greybeard]

Wow! I'm new to Orchid's and I knew some got big but to see it I've never seen anything like it here, more than likely don't do well here

[syndywindy]

Wow, something for my Fdk. to aspire to. That is one amazing plant!

[Musika]

Omg i want one!!!!!!!!!! Lol

[jim blanford]

Hey Guys, I was not involved in this project when it started, but I have always wanted a Fdk. After Dark plant. Well I just found out a friend of mine has them for sale I just orderd one and thought someone else may like one also. He's a great vendor and has great plants. His name is Ernie and he owns Enlightened Orchids in Fl. I'm going to try and post a pic of the plant, and his website. The plants are only $30.00. Wish me luck.... Jim.
Enlightened Orchids