Grow Hints on Dracula vampira

[bench72]

Hi All,

I recently acquired a Drac vampira growing in a 100mm pot of sphagnum moss with, I think, a couple of flower spikes coming out through the bottom of the pot... anyways, I've read that these plants are cool growing and like shady conditions...

So, when they say cool... would it be ok to put it outside where it gets to 5 celsius?

Also, any other hints on how to treat this baby?


Cheers
Tim

[Diane]

Let's see - 5 Celcius. Thats 9/5 plus the original value... hmmmm carry the 1 - - - lemme see, how many decimals was that......uhhh well, let me go find my calculator from college and I'll get back to you......

[Diane]

I got it! That's 41 Farenheit! Yippee.... (I'm easily entertained). Now, what was the question? Oh yeah, can that plant stand that temperature. Hmmmm, I don't know, I never had one of those! Where are the experts?

[Forrest]

too cold. really dont want to go below 50 F.

[LJA]

...or above 80, and high humidity combined with good airflow is almost a must.

Every once in a while, I'll get a wild hair up my ass and try to grow one of these again, thinking "this time will be the time," and each time I just kill it.

Very, *very* very

[bench72]

oh dear.... now I am not sure what to do... guess the only thing for it is to keep this baby indoors during winter where the temps do not go below 14... and as far as humidity, well it will be surrounded by Paphs so I guess it should be ok... fingers crossed...

Thanks for everyone's input.



Cheers
Tim

[kewpie]

tim- im currently growing mine indoors. im not sure that youll get enough humidity with the drac hanging out next to your paphs. my solution is one that someone else posted (maybe on a different forum )...anyhow, ive got a large clay pot sitting in a large tray of water about 2.5 inches deep. then i placed a clay saucer inside the pot so that the drac and my masde dont sit in water. the plants go on the saucer. this set up is next to my east-facing window, and i keep the window open so that the breezes hit the pot. ive also got a clear dome sitting over the pot. i find that the water wicking up the side of the pot and evaporating keeps it really cool and humid inside. the masde is in spike, and it appears that the flowers are actually going to open!

good luck! ive wanted dracs and masdes so badly for a long time. i hope that you and i can both keep ours alive.

[Forrest]

a lot of people grow these indoors, myself included up until about 6 or so months ago. It can totally be done. I used to blast mine all the time but I have seen pics of others who have been more successful.

[Styx]

Every once in a while, I'll get a wild hair up my ass and try to grow one of these again, thinking "this time will be the time," and each time I just kill it.

XD That worries me if you can't even grow one, I'll stay away from those, thank you.

[LJA]

Actually, styx, they're some of the coolest orchids out there, I think. I don't have the right conditions to keep them in, and I'm just not about to rig up something special. If you get a chance to try one though, you really should--at least once!