Dracula care

[LavendarSunset]

Will Draculas grow/thrive/bloom in a home setting, or are they better left to those with a greenhouse??

[isurus79]

They need a lot of humidity in the air to do well. I have one growing in a terrarium with 80% plus humidity and it is doing well. I don't know that you would be successful in AZ without a similar setup.

[Paul Mc]

I have to agree. Where I'm at, I was able to use a design based off of vase culture, filling the bottom with distilled water and suspending the pot/ roots and a bit of the lower part of the plant into the base for humidity. But my area can be very humid since we're close to the Missouri river.

[keithrs]

Don't waste your money.... They need humid and cool conditions to do well

[Paul Mc]

They need high humidity for sure, but there are some more heat tolerant ones as well. But that's relatively speaking. In Arizona, not so sure it would work out. As a side note, that's why our botanical gardens don't have these or similar types, because they are just way too hard to grow in our environment.

[isurus79]

A warm grower would do well inside. Dracula lotax for example. I think the ambient humidity needs to be high around the plant, as well as the roots though. Paul, have you noticed the flowers forming well indoors with a lower (ie. less than 80%) humidity? I've seen your potting strategies and was wondering if they work for all types of Pleuros. It seems like the Masdies love it!

[Paul Mc]

I finally figured out the Masdie's just in time, but they still needed to be cooler than I had anticipated. I bought a warm tolerant one and it has faired much better. The remaining cooler one started to recover, just in the nick of time since it had 2 leaves left. It was doing great, and then I forgot to water and it died within a few days. However, my Dracula lotax is right in my line of vision every morning. So, I remember to water and monitor it. It's growing like a weed. However, I haven't had any of them long enough to actually see them bloom, except one that came in bud. I am still hopeful as I learn and grow with this area, but I am honestly already $100 in the hole with dead "experiment" plants while I learn. But if I can get it down and find the right species or hybrids, I would be most elated!!!! LOL...

Sorry for being long winded, but I hope that answers the question.

Honestly though, if the person asking about Draculas is new to orchids, I'd advise to start with others. The types of orchids such as Masdevallias and Draculas can be a lot to learn unless you give them the exact climate/environment they want.

[Paul Mc]

Oh, and the masdie that just died had sooooo many new roots and was looking so healthy once I put it under grow lights in the basement. The Dracula lotax took some time to find the right balance of shade and very low light. It's sprouting new roots and leaves like crazy! I think the water just below the net pot in the vase it is suspended in is the trick. It ups the ambient humidity, even if sun isn't hitting the basin of water. Same water for weeks, no change or flush, and still no algae.

[isurus79]

Thanks for the info Paul! That was exactly what I was looking for.

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

Honestly though, if the person asking about Draculas is new to orchids, I'd advise to start with others. The types of orchids such as Masdevallias and Draculas can be a lot to learn unless you give them the exact climate/environment they want.

I agree wholeheartedly. Dracs and Masdies are pretty tough to start with, especially in AZ!!

[LavendarSunset]

I'm not starting with a Dracula; I think they are fascinating and wondered if they could be grown inside the home without having to create an indoor greenhouse. My orchids are grown indoors, and only go outside during the winter (with close weather monitoring, of course.)