I got my first Monkey!

[JanS]

Last year I happened upon some adorable photos of the monkey orchid (Dracula spp.) and decided I had to have one. I posted a thread here asking where I could order one but instead it turned into a somewhat heated discussion on whether it's a good idea to get this species since it has such special growing requirements.

Well, I showed the photos to some friends and one of them found J&L Orchids in Connecticut and ordered me 3 different Draculas as a Christmas present ()! He spent like $30 on each! For that kind of money I was surprised to receive 3 miniscule plants in 2" plastic pots in spagh and a packing plastic peanut at the bottom. But they're doing great and yesterday my first monkey flower opened - see attached!! There are two more buds on the same plant and two on another one. All three have numerous leaf shoots going. I have them in a "cool" greenhouse but the daytime highs still hit mid-80s for s little bit on a supper sunny day. I do have very high humidity and a small solar fan that circulates air in the area where they also are. So far so good - they seem to love it here and it hasn't really been that hard. Hopefully I won't screw anything up...

[Franco24]

Very nice! I'm a sucker for the Draculas ... I've got a trio of Drac. lotax along with a Drac. chimaera and a Drac. vampira. Though I haven't bloomed any of them quite yet, but I've got healthy foliage - hopefully with patience. I have mine outside this year for summer in South Jersey. IME they aren't that reliant on cooler temperatures (I've had mine in the 80-90's for weeks straight), the key is keeping them constantly wet and never allowing them to dry out.

What species do you have there?

[Nanook 2010]

Awesome!

You liked it...bought it, I'm sure they'll do great

[WhiteRabbit]

Awesome!

Oh boy, do I remember that thread ...

How nice of someone to get these for you! I really happy they have been doing well!

So ... so far they have been ok with short periods of temps low to mid 80s? Gives me hope to maybe try one, but unfortunately, since I don't have a greenhouse, the hotter it is, the lower the humidity ... so, might not work so well for me ...

[Orchids4ever]

So cute!

[JanS]

The picture I posted is of "Dracula fuligiefera". Thanks for all your support - go for it!

[Oscarman]

Cool orchid. Clicked on the thread hoping it would be an orchid, not sure why someone would want a monkey, monkey!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I just read that thread.

If you live in San Diego, Andy's Orchids has tons of Dracula spp.

JanS, you most definitely can grow Draculas where you live as you've already found out.

[SlipperGirl]

Really cute! congrats on the monkey

[Calbears]

I remember your thread too LOL. Gratz on the blooms and not letting people tell you what you can't do.

I've really liked the Draculas for a while now, but share Whiterabbit's issues of no greenhouse and warm, dry, Norcal summers. Some day...