Since I have to deal with warm weather year round, I decided to grow Catasetums about three years ago. I have a collection of both species and hybrids that now number over 100.
Cattleyas were my first love but the constant warmth presents problems. This hybrid of Catasetum pileatum and Ctsm. John C. Burchette is one of my favorites so far. Flowers are spectacular, some six inches across and bloom frequently. The flowers are not long lasting, perhaps ten days to two weeks however I have had one hybrid bloom nine times one summer! Nine spikes meant flowers were fading, some were in prime condition while some were developing on new inflorescences.
Cultural info will follow soon if everyone is interested in trying a few.
Enjoy!

Ohh, this is interesting!

After striking out years ago with this group, I tried my hand again with a couple of plants. One of them is the Monnierara Millenium Magic 'Witchcraft', which is right now putting on new growth outside. The other is a much smaller plant, the name escapes me right now.

That is one of those nearly black hybrids. Here is a picture of one of mine Ursula.

Looks dramatic!

Wow! Those are incredible. I don't think anyone around here has any.

WOW!

Here are three more examples of why I love these orchids. The WOW factor is just incredible.
Two vendors that you can check out are Clown Alley Orchids in Texas and Sunset Valley Orchids in California. Fred Clarke at SVO is the best hybridized and grower around and his seedlings are sold through numerous other vendors. Check them out!

Outstanding
I have a number of Fred Clarke hybrids. This past winter is when I really started to pay attention to the cycle for them. Fred sent me a number of articles and there was one in Orchid Digest. So far so good. Lots of root and leaf growth. Now just waiting for the flowers. How often do you water them, Bill.

Well in south Florida, mine never experience dormancy. From November through March once a week, maybe ten days. Then as temperatures clinb to 85, then low90's, I water roughly every five days. It always comes back to pots and media but I never let them get too dry.
Now that it is the rainy season and I have had some rain for 10 of 15 days, Mother Nature handles that chore.
I use clay pots exclusively and use aliflor/charcoal/sponge rock for the lower one third. Sphagnum for the middle one third and the top one third is the aliflor mix.
I haven't used bark for anything since moving here 8 years ago. It decomposes in 6 months!!!

Bill, thanks for that info!
After blooming one is told not to water at all until the roots on the new growth measure ca 6 inches. I always thought that restriction was a bit harsh! I imagine that there is considerable dew in their natural environment, so I directed my sprayer over my two plants as I would water some dormant succulents to duplicate that dew. Right now outside here in Nj, they are getting watered daily. So far they are doing fine.

The lack of humidity is what has stopped me from trying them. SVO probably hasn't any better humidity than we do here, but they do have those green houses that can be controlled.

Well honestly I got too much water but I can't imagine humidity being an over riding factor. It is all about the media and the water.
For the first three years I grew them in straight sphagnum moss . I thought that they did great. But then I started to rot some, especially Cycnoches species and primary hybrids. So this is why I am trying this layered media. I hoped to dry them out more quickly from June to September, our rainy season. I get 40+/- rainfall for 4 months!! Incredible. The dry months I water often enough so they do not go bone dry.
Example of difference: Catasetum tenebrosa flowers for me two or three times with a dozen to fifteen flowers. This year, twice so far with 21 and 23 flowers on a taller and stronger spike.

Now that photo is the shorter, more clustered spike. Imagine taller with more flowers and better arrangement! I prefer the taller one. It has to be the more even watering and more water. Nothing does really well when saturated in sphagnum. It is too much!!

Flowering a couple of times a year - I would be a happy camper!!

I should have mentioned that they are heavy feeders. I sprinkle about a quarter of a tsp. Of Dynamite slow release fertilizer per 5" pot. This lasts six months or so, a little longer in cooler climates.
I use Dynamite 10-10-17 in a white bottle/blue lid!
Try that for more flowers more often!

I like Dynamite also but it is often hard to find outside of Florida. I have bought it on Amazon and also purchased it directly from the company.
http://www.dynamiteplantfood.c...

Just google Dynamite plant food. I got a good deal, three for 21 dollars including shipping.

This series of photos will hopefully show everyone how I am growing orchids in SW Florida. The old saying is "a picture is worth a thousand words!", well there ought to be a great deal said here. Peruse, enjoy everyone. The last photo is a shot of the Catasetum seedlings that are growing quite nicely.
Other photos show various pots and mounts plus vertical areas made from Home Depot closet shelving hanging from the sides of my lanai.

Oh my!! May I move in?
Bill, your plants look wonderful, healthy!! Great Catasetums and everything else.

Thanks a bunch.
Anytime you are in the area, let me know. I have a spare bedroom for family and friends.