Dracula lotax

[Ross]

Finally finished opeing the first blossom (for me). If you look closely you may spot other spikes - one blossom per spike. No scent that I can detect.



Cute little face he's got, but what a schnoz!

[alschiavo]

Very nice!! I've debated this one. What kind of set up do you have it in?

~audrey~

[Ross]

Bottom of orchidarium, coolish (low 70s tops), NZ sphagnum (loose) in basket, misted for 5 seconds every 5 hours, watered/fertilized very occasionally (like once a week or so). Now I think the key to getting this guy to respond was having a thru-wall fan come on for 3 hours every night after lights-out and misting quit. This brought the cooler basement temps into tank near bottom but didn't adversely affect the warm growers near the top of tank. They really can withstand pretty dim light as long as the plant stays moist (not wet) and as long as the temps are down below high 70s. During summer when bottom of tank went as high as upper 70s, the spikes all blasted, but the plant did well. Hope this helps. If you have (or are thinking of) a orchidarium/terrarium, this might be a choice.

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[Becca]

I love it and have looked at buying one a few times. Is it a cool grower or can it withstand intermediate temps?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Becca

I love it and have looked at buying one a few times. Is it a cool grower or can it withstand intermediate temps?

I grow mine in cool temps during winter and warm during summer. My first post on this guy showed lots of new spikes in August. However they all blasted (dried up). It wasn't until then temps dropped to 60s at night and low 70s day that a spike matured. So I am concluding that the plant is intermediate, but favors cool. You should be OK with this guy. Your orchidarium should be fine. Don't quote me on this - OK I know you will but I would think you could do this.

[Tindomul]

Its freakin' gorgeous!! Congrats.

[Rosim_in_BR]

Ross, how long are you growing this? I've been growing mine mounted on a relatively small tree fern slab and I think it likes this condition. I occasionally had the same problem you mention (blasting buds), but it seems to me that it is not an easy bloomer anyway. What do you think?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Rosim_in_BR

Ross, how long are you growing this? I've been growing mine mounted on a relatively small tree fern slab and I think it likes this condition. I occasionally had the same problem you mention (blasting buds), but it seems to me that it is not an easy bloomer anyway. What do you think?

Sorry I missed this post, Rosim. I have been growing this plant for approx 9 months. When first placed into terrarium, I had it right near top under too bright light and leaf tips burned. I moved it lower in tank and it responded favorably with lots of spikes. But the spikes didn't mature. Now this was during summer when tank temperatures achieved 30C during day. Now the highest I record is 21-22C. I have made no other changes, so I attribute the blooming to the temperature change. I received the plant in sphagnum and have left it there. I have never tried it mounted.

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by Ross

Sorry I missed this post, Rosim. I have been growing this plant for approx 9 months. When first placed into terrarium, I had it right near top under too bright light and leaf tips burned. I moved it lower in tank and it responded favorably with lots of spikes. But the spikes didn't mature. Now this was during summer when tank temperatures achieved 30C during day. Now the highest I record is 21-22C. I have made no other changes, so I attribute the blooming to the temperature change. I received the plant in sphagnum and have left it there. I have never tried it mounted.

My plant is relatively large, so I guess I am cutting a piece and trying it in sphagnum as you do. I was a little reluctant because I moved Dracula inaequalis from tree fern fiber to sphagnum and the plant really didn't like it. It usually produced lots of flowers and this time only three, which is very little for this plant.

[cb977]

He's adorable, Ross! What a face!!!