Tsubotaara Melinda Marie 'Blue Fairy'

[isurus79]

I wonder if this plant is a good candidate for s/h. I've been wanting to give that potting method another try now that I use rainwater instead of the limestone filled, liquid rock that comes out of my tap! lol

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I wonder if this plant is a good candidate for s/h. I've been wanting to give that potting method another try now that I use rainwater instead of the limestone filled, liquid rock that comes out of my tap! lol

I've been hoping someone else would say that. Since I only grow in SH, I'm sure folks who grow traditionally get tired of me talking about it. I think it would be an excellent candidate, and definitely would give it a go. High reservoir, and protect it from a lower dryline.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I've been hoping someone else would say that. Since I only grow in SH, I'm sure folks who grow traditionally get tired of me talking about it. I think it would be an excellent candidate, and definitely would give it a go. High reservoir, and protect it from a lower dryline.

I'll have to find some clay pellets, but might try something else if I don't have enough LECA. In any case, I'll post what I do here.

[WaterWitchin]

I could send ya a small box of LECA if you want to experiment. It's really light stuff.

[Dollythehun]

Thanks, Steve. It's unlikely I'd go that route but, I'm going to try to more closely mimic the habitat.

I'm glad I resurrected this old thread.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I could send ya a small box of LECA if you want to experiment. It's really light stuff.

That would be great! I can send you some ecoweb in return, if interested.

[WaterWitchin]

PM Me your mailing address and I will catch up with ya later today when I’m not covered in mud...

[Jeff214]

I've seen a person on a Japanese site grow this clone in S/H with a fine clay medium (Lechuza system?). Maybe it's worth a try.

[Dollythehun]

Can you explain further?

[Jeff214]

I came across this lady from Tallahassee, Florida who grows it in an apartment, semi-hydroponically in a zeolite/lava rock medium called Lechuza-PON.
She says it flowers for her 3-4 times a year on every new growth.

On the Japanese websites they called this "clay" but doesn't seem like it...
I don't have any experience in this but it is a German S/H pot + medium set they sell.

The lady mentioned that it was initially in sphag moss (water every 3 days), then cypress bark (3-5 days), then changed her mind and potted in to Lechuza-PON (water every 10 days).


Links below are to the posts (in Japanese) on a plant grower website by the NHK (basically like the BBC of Japan).

Cypress chip:
ブルー・フェアリー🧚*♂️と杉チップ〔写真2枚目〕- セミノル・ランさんの日記｜みんなの趣味の園芸 2019/11/28
‘ブルー フェアリー🧚*♂️’が開花しました。〔写真2枚目〕- セミノル・ランさんの日記｜みんなの趣味の園芸 2019/07/02

S/H:
ブルー・フェアリ🧚*♂️、この子は育て易く咲き易い。〔写真1枚目〕- セミノル・ランさんの日記｜みんなの趣味の園芸 2020/03/21
ブルー・フェアリー再び〔写真1枚目〕- セミノル・ランさんの日記｜みんなの趣味の園芸 2020/05/22

She just posted a bloom photo a few days ago.
She probably speaks English...? but I could post a question on her board in Japanese if you'd like.