Medinilla magnifica

[libby]

I had a Medinilla magnifica about a year ago that I killed due to overwatering and putting the plant in too large a pot. Not a good combination. The plant was potted in potting soil. Since I think these flowers are as beautiful as any orchid (I know that statement may get me permanantly banned from this board), I have decided to try again and have just ordered another plant.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience growing this plant and what medium you grew it in. I read that they are epiphytic, so I am thinking about using CHC with a little charcoal and LECA thrown in. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I know nothing of this plant, but I did find a website about it when I was checking out what it looked like.

Medinilla magnifica Lindl., Medinilla magnifica, Malaysian Orchid, Exotic Rainforest rare tropical plants

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

From what I've been reading this plant is an epiphyte, much like orchids are.

But why would people suggest growing this plant in humus?

Is it an epiphyte on rotting wood or something? If that was the case, then they shouldn't be called "epiphytes growing on the limbs of trees".

Try growing it like an orchid. Experiment a little and use large wood chips first and maybe a little moss covering the top of the wood. If they're getting too dry, try the medium sized wood chips with moss on top. If still too dry, then the small wood chips with moss on top. But if they're too wet, add charcoal.

Apparently this thing is a shade grower from the Philippines.

[libby]

King,

The idea of growing this in humus is what I was confused about, too. That's not in line with being an epiphytic plant. Thanks for your suggestion.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Maybe the keeping the pot size as close to the size of the root mass applies too.

[libby]

Yeah, I will definitely put it in a smaller pot this time. I have done some online research on this plant and most of the pictures I have seen show it being grown in a pretty small pot.

[libby]

King,

Actually the website that you referenced does not show medinilla magnifica, but a different medinilla species (cumingii, I think) that is often confused with m. magnifica. The difference is that m. magnificat has the pink bracts and the other one does not. The other one can also tolerate lower temp than m. magnifica. Here is a picture:

Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Medinilla_magnifica_flor.jpg

[nenella]

Hi Libby, I have one that I have had since june 2007
& have been lucky enough to get it to reflower at the end of last year. I contacted the company where it originated from (in the netherlands) to ask what I should re-pot in as It really needs it...
here's what he kindly answered
hope this helps! :
"Hi Nenella
We allway's use peat without any supplements, so no chalk and no fertilizer in it, when you repot the plant, you just go on treating it as you did, you allready have it for 2,5 years, so the way you treat it is the right way, best is to use a bigger pot because otherwise you will have to damage the roots to get it in, it's not neccesery to keep it root bound.

I whish you good luck with your Medinilla.

With kind regards
Kees Zwinkels
Atlantis nursery
Kwekerij Atlantis

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

But why peat and humus?

Why not like an orchid, bark?

Aren't they epiphytes?

Peat suggests it's a bog plant.

Humus suggests it grows on rotting wood or that it grows in topsoil.

Bark suggests it grows on a living tree, like a true epiphyte.

This is weird. Now I wanna know, and I don't even own this plant.

Is it an epiphyte of swamp forests growing on the lower tree trunks of trees or something? That's the only thing that makes sense!

Man, I hope someone on the OB who's actually from the Philippines can answer this question. I've not found a good picture of it in the wild also! How cryptic were the people who first introduced this plant into cultivation?! In my opinion, some secrets should never be honored, and this is one of them!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I can accept not needing to keep the plant potbound, but if it's a true epiphyte like orchids are, I think something that fits the root mass without keeping the roots potbound applies too.

You know the only other reason I can think of for this plant not to be grown as an epiphyte is that it's not a true epiphyte.

If people are growing it in humus and peat, the only other plausible explanation is it's a lithophyte growing on any old moss covered rock near the base of trees in a swamp forest.

Other than that, if it's a true epiphyte, why not grow it like our beloved epiphytical orchids, in bark?