Anyone growing Dracula psittacina?

[rbarata]

Not sure if I buy one...need advise, especially regarding max temps it can tolerate.

[estación seca]

From IOSPE

Found in Colombia on the central and eastern cordilleras in cloud forests at elevations of 2200 to 2400 meters as a medium sized, cold growing epiphyte

The only place I've seen Draculas grown successfully in California was around San Francisco, where it's cold all the time (from the perspective of a desert dweller.) I wouldn't think of trying them at my house unless I had a refrigerated terrarium.

[Roberta]

I do get away with some Dracs on my patio - at least some of the species seem to tolerate heat as long as they stay moist. Mine are in sphagnum in net pots (plastic baskets) and get watered at least daily. I have actually found them to be more forgiving of heat (as long as it cools off at night) than a lot of Masdevallias. (I don't have this particular species) They do need good water.

[rbarata]

Not sure if it can handle my indoor temps in summer that can reach 28°C (82,4 F).

[Roberta]

I don't know about that particular species, The species that do well for me (outside, so experience summer temperatures) are Drac. roezlii, bellerophon, cordobae, benedictii, woolwardii that have bloomed for me and a few others that grow (not die) that haven't bloomed yet. There certainly have been fatalities along the way that DIDN'T like my conditions. So it is a gamble... but your high indoor temperature does not seem to be so bad... as long as they get some good cooling at night (which may be the hard part indoors)

[rbarata]

I can put them in the freezer at night...hope I don't eat it by mistake. Dracula salad.. hehehe

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

I can put them in the freezer at night...hope I don't eat it by mistake. Dracula salad.. hehehe

Well, that's a little TOO chilly I think. You could move to my neighborhood... summer nights usually around 20 deg C (68 deg F)

[rbarata]

The problem is not an enough low temp at night in summer (around 19°C avg) but the high day temps (between 35 and 40°C and HR lower than 20%).

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

The problem is not an enough low temp at night in summer (around 19°C avg) but the high day temps (between 35 and 40°C and HR lower than 20%).

I think the solution there is water, water, water, and shade... For me, sphagnum kept very wet seems to help them... my daytime temperatures aren't quite as high as yours but definitely out of Dracula range (38 deg C is pretty much the maximum, 32 is not uncommon) I also don't usually get humidity that low in summer (but 40% is common). But they did get that sort of temperature and vanishingly low humidity a few weeks ago (and also a month ago) - like down to 11%. What amazes me is that I sometimes get flowers during such times that are certainly not Dracula weather. Again, some are more forgiving than others. What I grow is largely the result of natural selection... the ones that didn't tolerate it I no longer have. So I would hate to make recommendations on any particular species.