| GROWTH HABITS |
Terrestrial with tubers |
| ORIGIN |
Malaya, IndoChina north to southern China |
| BLOOMING SEASON |
Summer |
| LIGHT |
Low 400 to1000 fc |
| TEMPERATURE |
Warm with min winter temperature of 13 degrees C (55
degrees F) but it is better if the winter temp does not fall below
18 degrees C (65 degrees F) and summer highs of 31 degrees C (88
degrees F). |
| HUMIDITY |
High 80% to 90%. If you are not growing in a
greenhouse you can get these levels by growing the plant in at least
a 10 gallon fish tank with 1 to 2 inches of wet vermiculite in the
bottom and then place the plant on the vermiculite and cover the
top. Place the tank where it gets some light and watch for any
growth of mold or mildew, which must be cleaned out if it appears.
You can also build a larger area with a fan and high humidity. |
| WATER |
Keep damp but not wet during the growing period. Once
the leaves turn yellow and fall off let the plants become dry water
only enough to keep the tubers from drying out. In early winter stop
watering altogether until new growth is seen. |
| GROWING MEDIA |
Sterilized sphagnum moss or a mix of 3 parts peat
moss, 6 parts seedling bark, 1 part perlite and 1 part charcoal.
Place some of this mix that is damp into a plastic bag and place in
a microwave for 10 min. on high to sterilize. Another good potting
mix is leaf mold and soil with some organic fertilizer. You may also
want to add some small rocks to the potting mix the plant roots seem
to like to attach to the rocks. Repot just before you let the go dry
into fresh mix. |
| FERTILIZER |
Feed weak
weekly a balanced fertiizer (1/4 teaspoon per gallon clean water). |
| POTS |
If you use plastic pots be sure to add drainage
material to the bottom of the pot and water accordingly to keep the
plant damp. Clay pots may be better for this plant because the roots
are kept better aerated and more humidity is kept higher around the
plant. You have to water more often in the clay pot. |
| NOTES |
The plant requires high humidity so take this fact in
mind before trying it. The plant is available from Rick's Tropical. |
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