More cloud forest orchids - Dracula orchids

Have you ever had someone look sideways at you wondering if you were all there?

It was like this ..... I had noticed that my Dracula orchid was in the process of opening a bizarre triangular bloom with a monkey face in the centre of it, and in my excitement I proudly announced

'My Dracula's going to flower!'.

'Your what?'

O.K. Apparently this was a little too weird for some. Anyway.....it gets more weird.....check this out! Dracula Vlad tepes was named after a genocidal maniac, Vlad Tepes, who murdered millions in the middle ages! So, I am not sure that I should be so proud........

Check this out this hub on the weird faces of Dracula. Photos of Dracula are interspersed throughout the hub.

Dracula = latin for little dragon (to do with the the two long spurs on the sepals).

There are around 123 species of the cool growing Dracula orchids which are native to the moist cloud forests mainly in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru at altitudes of 1500 - 2100 metres.

Dracula orchids are compact, sympodial orchids that grow from short rhizomes and lack in storage pseudobulbs.

These epiphytic (grows on branches and trees) or lithophytic orchids (grows on ground litter) generally produce downward growing pendulous spikes that often flower sequentially, lasting only a few days for each bloom. Most Dracula orchids produce a single bloom on each spike.

The tufted, triangular blooms have unusual long tails on each sepal. Dracula orchids might have small petals but the lip is usually large and very successful in mimicking the mushroom (fungi). The lip also moves in a breeze and looks like a tongue being poked out by a dragon!

Dracula orchids have a cupped labellum (lip) with the aromatics of mushrooms, which attract small fruit flies. Apparently these while in the throes of mating the fruit flies accidentally pollinate the Dracula orchid!

A well-known botanist and orchid collector, Henry Chesterton (1840 - 26 Jan1883), accomplished most of his collecting work whilst employed with James Veitch and Sons. Sadly, Chesterton became very ill on one of his collection missions, died, and was buried at a place called Puerto Berrio in Colombia.

It was during 1879 that a Dracula orchid species was discovered by Chesterton and subsequently named after in his memory. Dracula chestertonii (Frog's Skin) was the deserving orchid. Sadly after the discerning orchid collector Chesterton died, orchid collectors grabbed every orchid plant they saw to cater for the increasing popularity in keeping orchids.

Unfortunately in the early days classification was not well studied, partly due to knew species being discovered, and Draculas' were grouped in with Masdevallias. It was not until 1979 that Dracula was segregated from Masdevallia by Carlyle Luer who decided that Dracula looked more like mythical type monsters or even bats.

Dracula orchids enjoy a daytime temperature range of 13C (55F) - 26C (79F) and night time temperatures of 4C (40F) - 12C (54F). My Dracula have coped with light frost temperatures in the winter and appear to be acclimatised as demonstrated by flowering.

Generally the higher elevation plants thrive in a cooler environment compared to the lower elevation plants which are happy in a warmer environment.

If we want to entice a Dracula orchid to put out blooms in Spring or Summer, there must be a temperature difference of 4 - 5C (7 - 9F) between day and night, which is no problem here in Napier, New Zealand.

Water

Dracula orchids do not have a storage organ like pseudobulbs so therefore they lack a water storing capacity.

To overcome this I use sphagnum moss with bark chips and water every couple of days, more so in hotter temperatures. Dracula orchids do not like to dry out completely between watering so regular watering is vital.

I mist the moss daily in the summer, often several times a day, to aid a cooling humidity. Dracula orchids like to be damp, not saturated as that will cause root rot.

Humidity

We know that cloud orchids thrive in high humidity in the range of 70 - 90% so the floors under the orchids need wetting down once or more often during the day. I mist the sphagnum moss the orchid grows in during the day as well to keep the atmosphere cool and humid.

Dracula orchid blooms have been known to collapse in higher temperatures but they can be rehydrated by misting with water.

Shade

Growers recommend around 30 - 50% shading. Mine seem to be happy with 50% shade.

Dracula orchids thrive in a constantly moving air environment so there is no risk of rot setting in to the roots.

My Dracula hangs from the top shelf in my shelter (on the western side), and it enjoys a continual breeze due to the fact the New Zealand lies in a westerly wind belt hence the westerly is the predominating wind.

In the wild Dracula orchids grow in a non-seasonal region near the equator so they enjoy the some cultural conditions all year round.

Dracula orchids require a very light feeding,weekly, of a well balanced fertiliser to keep producing blooms. The tips of the leaves can turn blackish when the fertiliser is too strong, but this does not seem to affect the orchids, even in the wild.

Dracula orchids mostly like to send their flower spikes downwards so it is vital to use an appropriate type of pot.

There are hanging open weave baskets, wire baskets, plasticised wire mesh or lattice pots.

Sphagnum moss and small bark chips seems to be the best potting mix (in my opinion), due to its very high capacity to hold water.

Generally the rule here is repot every two years in autumn to winter.

It is vital not to let the compost breakdown too much because the roots will rot and when that happens, the plant perishes.

If the Dracula orchid loses its central leaves it will require repotting and dividing so then there will be two plants.

This can be done by cutting a leaf bearing rhizome with live roots and placing in a new sterile pot with sphagnum moss which will ensure good drainage and moisture retention.

OK. So you have learnt about the bizarre Dracula Orchid. But wait!

There is more to follow.....check out the series of Dracula Orchid photos below.

My favourites are the Clown, the Unequaled and the Vampire Draculas.

What are yours?

Answer the poll by scrolling down below the photos.