Dracula chimaera

[Rosim_in_BR]

Here's my Dracula chimaera 'in situ' I mean, under the Macadamia tree where I keep it hanging along with the other Draculas, some Odontos, cool Maxillarias, Idas, Restrepias etc.

Dracula chimaera (Rchb. f.) Luer on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[CoolPhrog]

I love the red speckles, Mauro. You have such a great collection!

[isurus79]

Really neat looking flower. Ive been thinking about stepping into the Drac world. Is this one cool growing or no? As always, thanks for any info! I also like the 'in situ' photo! I would love to see more of your plants where they 'naturally' grow!

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by irphrog

I love the red speckles, Mauro. You have such a great collection!

Thanks, Dana! I sometimes think I should open a little more, get different plants... but the more you diversify, the more you find trouble to standardize the culture requirements and the time you need to invest grows exponentially!

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Really neat looking flower. Ive been thinking about stepping into the Drac world. Is this one cool growing or no? As always, thanks for any info! I also like the 'in situ' photo! I would love to see more of your plants where they 'naturally' grow!

This one grows well in intermediate, fresh conditions, Steve. It faces well our hot summer under the Macadamia tree. The shade is heavy. Temperature under that tree is several degrees lower than around during the hot months. Air movement is free. In winter the temperatures drop as down as 38ºF in the dawn, winds are very cool. The plants have no protection other than the tree above.
All my Draculas are intermediate growers, but pass safely through the hot summers (they are D. gigas, D. nycterina, D. chimaera, D. mopsus, D. lotax, D. inaequalis, D. erytrochetae and D. vampira, although vampira is a cool grower that I can grow well here).

[jkofferdahl]

What a beauty! I have a small side company (I make pipes) called Chimaera.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Rosim_in_BR

This one grows well in intermediate, fresh conditions, Steve. It faces well our hot summer under the Macadamia tree. The shade is heavy. Temperature under that tree is several degrees lower than around during the hot months. Air movement is free. In winter the temperatures drop as down as 38ºF in the dawn, winds are very cool. The plants have no protection other than the tree above.
All my Draculas are intermediate growers, but pass safely through the hot summers (they are D. gigas, D. nycterina, D. chimaera, D. mopsus, D. lotax, D. inaequalis, D. erytrochetae and D. vampira, although vampira is a cool grower that I can grow well here).

Wow, thanks! Thats probably a list I will use as an entry guide. I remember you posted a pic of your vampira a while back and it is one of the more facinating Dracs. Do you think that it would do well in a Hawaii with high temps rarely hitting 90F in summer and highs in the low 70s during winter? Our min temps rarely get to 60F. Is this too warm for such a critter?

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Wow, thanks! Thats probably a list I will use as an entry guide. I remember you posted a pic of your vampira a while back and it is one of the more facinating Dracs. Do you think that it would do well in a Hawaii with high temps rarely hitting 90F in summer and highs in the low 70s during winter? Our min temps rarely get to 60F. Is this too warm for such a critter?

I guess it is too warm, Steve, especially for vampira, gigas and chimaera. If I had to try I'd start with D. inaequalis or D. mopsus. They are small flowered and not expensive. If they do well I then would add D. nycterina, which is larger and with long tails!

[Tindomul]

Wow, that one is really really interesting. Congrats.