Draculas.......

[blksunsh1ne]

Ok, I bought a dracula about 10 months ago- Dracula mopsus. I specifically got this one because is was more of a warm-grower and I live in the south-(New Orleans, now Tampa). My question is, its grown some more leaves, and even has what looks to be roots-pinkish in color? but i think they may be flower spikes growing from the crown,into the spagh.,(i believe mopsus flowers grow downwards) then after theyve grown about 2 inches, they die. I was told to keep the spag. moist-which I do, but its not blooming, and its making me crazy. I keep it in the house, hanging off the end of the kitchen cabinet. It doesnt get direct sunlight,more of a shaded setting, and my house temp is around 75F. Ive tried to find info on these little guys, but nothing has really helped, and the info is really limited. Does anyone have experience in draculas? mopsus's? Does it need its own miniature coffin? I mean C'mon! This dracula is being evil to me....so I believe my dear friends, this, is war.....

[fred]

I had a look at your pic and they are flower spikes.

I find with draculas when in spike they do not like to much water.

I hope the links help you



http://www.draculaspecies.com/list.php

http://www.canadianorchidcongress.ca...sdevallia.html

http://www.taygeta.com/masdevallia.html ( also Dracula,s)

[tom499]

drac's do indeed grow flowers downwards. what container do you grow it in? You dont want too much medium or too large a container for them.

I've seen many grown successfully attached to wire mesh with a clump of sphag round the roots only. You dont want the sphag to be too well packed either. i havent checked the links yet, but i could find you some images of how people grow them, with great results.

At least yours is growing though you must have the basic conditions sorted, just need to finely tune them so you get the blooms.

[BillC]

Hi Sunshine, just a few thoughts that might assist. Ensure 6-12°C day/night difference to aid flower formation. If specific information on a species cannot be found, grow initially on the cool side of intermediate temperatures.
Plants of genus Dracula must be planted in pots with open bottoms and sides (net pots) as flower spikes grow down and out the sides and bottom of the pot. Since your plant is in a solid pot I guess that the spikes will not have a chance to flower. Hope you see the blooms.

Bill

[Julie_M]

Hi Sunshine,

I well understand your love for these weirdos. What stuck out to me in your OP is that nowhere do you mention humidity and air circulation. With these suckers, those are crucial cultural factors. Dracula like very high humidity, like 70-80%, with constant air circulation.

And as Bill said, they do like a cool down at night. I've found that when Masdies or Dracs are said to be warmth tolerant, it generally means that they will tolerate warmer day temps, as long as nights are cooler. Some growers even put ice packs around them at night to cool them down...

It took me a couple of years to get it right, with tons of spikes and just as many aborted spikes or blasted buds in the meantime, so good luck and keep on trying. You know you're doing something right if it's growing new leaves and at least spiking.

Julie

[fred]

another useful link

http://freespace.virgin.net/eileenrobin.watson/

[blksunsh1ne]

Well I am thinking I should put my dracula outside after dusk-God this is all sounding so cliche now- and letting the breeze hit it,and allow it to have a change in temp in the evening. However if I do that, I dont know if I'll put it in shock by bringing it back in the house in the A.M. and starting this routine. I dont want to permanently keep it outside,even though its north facing, it still gets to the high 80's during the day. Also, if I do mount it on something else, arent I supposed to wait till its done flowering? -it never gets to that point!

BillC- I do have it in a net pot (pic enclosed), came that way when shipped

tom499- posting pics of how others are grown would be awesome.

Fred- so basically back off on the water? should I wait till the medium is dry or DRYING?

Maybe I should stick a cross in the spag.......

[m3phist023]

I just bought a Dracula- a chestertonii- and the gentleman I bought it from said it should never be dry- evenly moist all the time. Mind you, I am no expert, as I was brilliant enough to put it in my hot (like, 90F) car for transport, which killed the existing flowers and shriveled the tips of the leaves. There is still stuff going down in the pot and the roots still look good from what I can dig up.......
The guy said they are also very water-quality sensitive ( as in, they don't do well with hard water).

[blksunsh1ne]

tom499- do you have photos of mounted dracs?? id love to see them and get ideas P

[tom499]

Apologies for my slow reply, its exam week, i shall seek them out immediately!

[fred]

The last post from Tom499 has been Deleted By Admin

[Bolero]

Remember that not all Drac's grow down......some do flower upright like other orchids.

;-)

I really struggle with these and have to admit that I have had no success in flowering one yet but I have a couple and hopefully I will get the culture right one day.