Dracula vampira

[pikevi]

I did buy a few more orchids last weekend. I will post the photos and the names soon in another thread .

One of the orchids I bought is a Dracula vampira. Since I cannot give an optimum environment for it just now, I wonder if what I did temporarily is sufficient for the buds to mature and bloom. There are two 'flower spikes'(?)

I have hung the pot on a metal grid and right under it is a humidifier. Also I placed a long narrow basket with wet sphagnum moss in ,just behind it. Also theer is another basket with water and wet sphagnum mosss in front of it. I placed a small hand towel a few inches hind it and have been spraying water on it twice a day.

Would that be enough until I come up with a permanent solution, say in a week to 10 days?

Any help/suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[kmarch]

That's quite the set up. I think it will be ok. Draculas need humidity and like it cool. What kind of humidfier is it? Is it the kind like i had that blows cool damp air out?

[pikevi]

Just now I have a warm-mist humidifier about 1.5 metres below it.It dispenses about 8 litres of water per 24 hours.But I have a number of cool-moist humidifiers too. I can switch to one of those if needed.

I think there is a plenty of moisture around the Dracula. But the towel was a bit dry (not bone-dry) in the evening.

Thanks kmarch for the prompt reply.

[kmarch]

In my opinion the cool humidifier is better than the warm one if only because Draculas prefer things cooler, but I'm a bit of a novice on the practicalities of growing draculas because I've only ever had one.

[fred]

your right there Kevin Dracula's like cooler conditions also they are shade lovers
they tend to burn very quick with indirect sun light as well.
some orchid growers here say that Dracs can be grown very much the same as Masdevallias mots dracs I have seen grown are all placed under the bench on hangers

[evagentry]

That is an exciting orchid to start trying to grow Pikevi, you are braver than I am, we live in Transylvania,and I thought it would be neat to grow one of these, but when i saw the conditions it takes I changed my mind, keep us posted and maybe I will change my mind again!

[Tobi]

Pikevi,
I'm hoping to start a cool growing orchid area in my basement with lights. Keep us
posted on how its doing.

[pikevi]

How appropriate will it be, evagentry, if you grow Dracula in Transylvania!! . BTW, I still love Bram Stoker

Tobi: I am racking my brain to come up with a solution.. I am not planning to 'set up' an area per se but am thinking of a place for just that plant to give it the right conditions. I will post the outcome of my attempt to find a solution.

[Vivienne]

I have a cool mist area that I set up. It is a 3 rack shelf with a cool mist humidifier on the bottom rack. The middle rack holds my Restrepia, Sarcoglottis, Pleurothallid and Lepanthanopsis. On the top rack I placed a sheet of plexiglass with some assorted plants on top for shade. The entire shelf unit is wrapped in a clear shower curtain which I cut to fit.

Temps go no higher than 64 (which is a bit too warm I think). Humidity is rarely below 58% - generally in the 68% area.

Note: the plants have changed since the pic was taken.

[pikevi]

Thank you Vivienne.

Should I say great minds think alike?...hahahaha

On my way home I was checking various stores for something that can be used. Luckily for me there was a hexogonal cute little indoor green house , which was the last unit they had, on sale for 1/2 price. It was only $24.99CAD. It has three shelves and the top one is so low there is enough 'head' room for tall orchids. With or without any plants it looks very cute. Besides that the lowest shelf can be removed and the humdifier can thus be placed on the floor.

I will post a picture tomorrow.

I got an extra 35G glass tank (aquarium) which I may use if I can find a way to circulate the air.

You have a nice setup there. I also bought a Pleurothallis restrepioides last week end... may be that too can go in with the Dracula.

I see that you are using a 1 G humidifier.. does teh moisture condense with even the lowest setting? The smallest I have is a 1G capacity.

Thanks so much for the help.. much appreciated.

[Vivienne]

It's hard to get it to condense. I do tend to keep it on the lowest setting. The air circulation is about perfect at that level and it will make it through a 24 hour period.

[pikevi]

This is the small hexogonal GH I bought yesterday. It is only 60 inches high and 27" wide.

I have not found a permanent place for it yet. I think I can have the same setup like you have, Vivienne, should I take that route.

Thanks again.

[Vivienne]

That's an awesome little greenhouse! LOVE IT!!!

[Tobi]

Great set up Vivenne and Pikevi. This info will help alot when I get mine started.
Vivenne, so you are using just the fan from the humidifier for air circulation?

[patlee]

I agree with Vivienne-it's adorable. Did you get it at a store that we might have here in the states,Pikevi? I've got to shop around for one of those--Oh, I could set it in our bedroom--west window will give bright light,. On the other hand, a group of my Phals are sitting on an antique washstand and I would really like to move them (they're in a bay window--just right for that little hexagonal thing)


Which store,Pikevi?

[pikevi]

Thank you Tobi,Vivienne and patlee.

I bought this at "Canadian Tire" store.. ....just like Home Depot, but Canadian owned.

I believe there are no stores in the US but I may be wrong. I will try and get the name of the company that makes them. This was the last one without any packaging so I can't give you the name right away.

One good thing about this one is that the top shelf has a clearence of almost 24 ".

Tobi: Even the smallest humidifier has enough force to shoot the mist for more than a meter (3-4 '), at least the ones I have. I don't think we need a fan.

[Vivienne]

Tobi - the humidifier I have has a very strong blower. At least I feel so. As you can see in my setup it is below the plants, but on the lowest setting it moves the leaves on the plants around a great deal and since it is enclosed the air flows about really well. I have to tape the opening edge shut or it blows open.

[Tobi]

Originally Posted by Vivienne

Tobi - the humidifier I have has a very strong blower. At least I feel so. As you can see in my setup it is below the plants, but on the lowest setting it moves the leaves on the plants around a great deal and since it is enclosed the air flows about really well. I have to tape the opening edge shut or it blows open.

Thanks Vivienne. I thought that you had sufficient air ventillation looking at
your setup. Just wanted to make sure the humidifier supplied it.