I can't really claim any credit for blooming this; it was in spike when I got it from Chantelle Orchids back in mid November. I feel I should apologise for the exceptionally poor photography here, but have you tried photographing a nearly black flower under bright grow lights with a phone camera? Believe me, it's not easy!
I have always has a fascination with Catasetums, but I can't say my attempts at growing them have been particularly successful. They are a bit thin on the ground here in the UK, and I have seen some very sorry looking albeit choice hybrids selling on eBay for truly extortionate amounts of money. I paid more for this than I'm generally comfortable spending on any orchid, but not so much that i'd be too distraught if it died on me. From what I've read (and I do read a lot), Catasetums tenebrosum is meant to be one of the more forgiving members of the genus. When I got this plant it was potted in tightly packed sphagnum moss in a flimsy plastic pot as is usual with most of Chantelle's plants. Naturally, that had to go. I was rather disappointed to discover that it had rather few healthy roots, though there were a few on last years pseudobulbs. The two new growths (I always go for a plant with more than one lead, if I can) had made very few roots, which doesn't tally with my previous experience with Catasetums at all. Usually the new growth is followed by an explosion of new roots while it is still quite young.
Catasetums originate in South and Central America and require warm to hot conditions while in active growth. They also require a definite rest period with no water while they are resting, and not to be watered until new roots are well developed. I'll probably post more on the subject as the plant settles in and actually does something.
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