Good luck with your plants too! They are amazing things :)

I haven't grown catasetums before but just went to the Pacific Orchid Expo over the weekend and picked up a Fredclarkeara After Dark "Black Pearl" as well! Also a Cycnodes Wine Delight. Thought I would also try my hand at catasetum types this year. Good luck!

I have grown only one (had to look up the name): Ctsm. atratum 'Polar Cap' x tenebrosum 'St Fransis'

well... used to.. does that count? Here are some the plants I grew and I think they are fairly easy to grow into specimen size

Clorochilon greent gant x self, this plant was 24 inches toll at picture time

Clowesia grace dunn, an astonishing bloomer

and last .. for now...mormodes revoluta

I have about 15 varieties. Most are from Sunset Valley orchids. I started with Cycnodes Wine Delight from a show. Then I added F. After Dark from a local vender. Then I got on the SVO website and saw a there was a dormant catasetinae sale. And it snow balled from there. They are a great fit for me. I love the foliage during the summer when they are outside. Yet lose their leaves in the fall/winter when they need to come inside. So they are not taking up major space. Most of the blooms are long lasting and fragrant. Again they are great plants.

Ben and others -Thanks for sharing the pictures. Please keep them coming.

I have a Monnierara Millennium Magic 'Witchcraft' FCC/AOS

Include me in the catasetae club. :] I hope to get blooms from my 3 catasetae:

Monnierara MM'Witchcraft,

Fredclarkeara After Dark "Black Pearl" and a

Cycnodes "Wine Delight".

Kept them alive and they still have leaves their first winter with me. I'm waiting to see if I get a reward.

Old thread I know, but I think this is the right group of people to ask. I have a Cycnodes Wine Delight JEM as my only catasetae orchid.

I'm interested in Mon MM Witchcraft & Fdk After Dark "Black Pearl" next.

Which of these two is the darker black? Are they both truly black? I haven't seen many pictures or videos of the Fdk, but they few I have seen it looks like a deep red. I can't find the Mon locally but the Fdk is available...I don't want to buy one just because it is available only to be disappointed by the blooms. The Mon seems to be more popular on youtube & is newer, so I wonder if that is an improved plant?

I have a Cycnodes Wine Delight too, and it just bloomed for the first time this year! My Fdk After Dark didn't, unfortunately, but that one might not be blooming size yet. Here's a photo of that Wine Delight. He was a beaut - early bloomer and quick growing. Good luck!

Lala_e, The Mon MM Witchcraft is a satiny concolor blue black with a 3 inch flower. Quite arresting. Fdk After Dark "Black Pearl - Haven't seen this one live, only in pictures.
Kelli, Nice happy C. Wine Delight!