DRACULA LOTAX - CAN YOU HELP? TEMPERATURE CONTROL

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Hi guys, totally new here, but read so many interesting things on this forum. I have a question regarding Dracula lotax I just ordered. I do love this orchid and I am extremely excited to own one, but after some research I did realize it will be pretty much impossible to grow this piece outside at my balcony like all other orchids I have, due to the climate here in Florida. I did spend last 3 hours trying to find some indoor miniature greenhouse or terrarium with cooling, or cooling system for terrarium, and it seems impossible, or too complicated. I do assume daily outside temperature is ok here in Florida for this orchid, but the night drop to 50's will just not happen without the help. After 3 hours something hit me - all these advises about how to create terrarium with cooling systems made home from different computer parts etc, someone mentioned, that the cooler to use is the SAME like one used in wine chiller! and here we go, my question is, what do you think - CAN I USE SIMPLE DIGITAL TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED WINE CHILLER and place my Dracula in the chiller overnight, and than have it outside during the day? this way i can do that 70's to 50's temperature drop ratio even here in Florida. Any ideas???? Thanks so much!

[WhiteRabbit]

I believe this is a more temperature tolerant Dracula. It may be ok on a shady windowsill indoors.

Hopefully others who have experience with this species will chime in

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Thanks Sonya
I did went through a lot of old threads here, it seems like my idea is not so original, many people are writing about wine coolers for orchids:-) Yes, this Dracula is more temperature tolerant, however I know even it can survive inside, it might not bloom, our apartment is around 75 during day and 72 night, which is not even close to 50 it needs at night. This drop seems most important to make it bloom. So my question is more, if I can keep it outside during the days (not summer time, but fall to spring when it is around 70 outside in Miami) and than put it into wine chiller for nights, without light, to make this temperature drop. This way I can create this huge drop and make it bloom even here in Florida? Or would this switch every day from Florida outside temperature to wine chiller kill this orchid? I am not profi, I love orchids, have many different spices from all around thee world and have already some that I cant bring to bloom due to the luck of cold night temperatures ever here in Miami :-(

[stonedragonfarms]

Hmmm...I don't grow lotax, but I do grow several others; 72F nights shouldn't kill it, but you'll likely not see any blooms either; as you have mentioned, these really need cold nights to flower. I think the biggest challenge that you will face in moving it every night/day will be the humidity factor; most of these need humidity in the 75-80% range 24/7, coupled with cool temperatures. I would be worried about putting the plant into the wine cooler and not providing enough humidity and a supply of moving air, not to mention you will be putting the plant into an environment at 50F directly from an environment of 72F+... If you are determined to grow this guy in Miami, I'd go the route of the wine refrigerator grow case (there's a thread somewhere in the terrariums forum if memory serves) and be willing to lose a few until you work the kinks out of the system...
Just my $.02,
Adam

[Polarizeme]

Do the temperatures in Florida never drop below 70?
This Drac does not bloom until early spring. They can easily tolerate temps in the 40's with shelter from the elements outside.
Shade and humidity are the keys. They do not tolerate direct sunlight and need high humidity. You may want to consider putting the plant in a small portable greenhouse indoors during the summer heat and take it outside during the cooler fall and winter months. (Lowes has these for about $39) The portable greenhouse would provide shelter and regulate the humidity. Surely the temps vary 15 to 20 degrees in the winter. It doesn't matter how cold, just a temp difference from day to night of about 15-20 degrees. Many plants will acclimate to different climates with proper care.

I'm sure you've heard this but.... You might want to consider warmer genus orchids for your area or build an environment suitable for the cooler genus.

[Discus]

A wine chiller should work; I would however suggest you make it into a grow area (rather than carting the poor plant in and out all the time); using LED lights, or hacking the top off the wine cooler and replacing the top panel with glass/acrylic (with lights on the outside) will allow you to light the thing without heating the inside too much.
You may also like to think about how you'd get the inside nice and humid.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Polarizeme

Do the temperatures in Florida never drop below 70?
This Drac does not bloom until early spring. They can easily tolerate temps in the 40's with shelter from the elements outside.
Shade and humidity are the keys. They do not tolerate direct sunlight and need high humidity. You may want to consider putting the plant in a small portable greenhouse indoors during the summer heat and take it outside during the cooler fall and winter months. (Lowes has these for about $39) The portable greenhouse would provide shelter and regulate the humidity. Surely the temps vary 15 to 20 degrees in the winter. It doesn't matter how cold, just a temp difference from day to night of about 15-20 degrees. Many plants will acclimate to different climates with proper care.

I'm sure you've heard this but.... You might want to consider warmer genus orchids for your area or build an environment suitable for the cooler genus.

Thank you very much for the advise. First of all, yes, most of my orchids are actually suitable for Florida weather, I buy them either from the sellers here directly or from Hawaii. I was kinda overexcited to find seller of dracula on the ebay and bought it before even researching what it needs. I had this issue with cymbidium, where I was not able to provide that temperature drop and even it grows great, it never blooms:-) Our temperatures are dropping few times during the winter, but it is really not so often. There is though that difference, especially December- February, sometimes it goes even under 50. I read that this particular Dracula tolerates also higher temperatures, so I guess instead of killing it in wine chiller, I will try to acclimatize it, maybe just moving it from the outside to the apartment overnight,, which will definitely make temperature drop, and than in winter time leaving outside constantly. I will check that small greenhouse in the lowes as well.

[Polarizeme]

As far as the heat goes, please watch the plant for heat stress. Dracs don't like anything over 80, really. I have all of mine hanging under the benches where it is cooler and shady. Be sure to water and mist frequently in the warmer temperatures to give the plant some relief. I can not stress enough that Dracs like shade, in fact thrive in it.
Oh and air circulation, lots of air movement in that humid environment. My small indoor "greenhouse" has 2 small electric fans in it to move the air.
In the winter, when the temps are cooler, be careful not to over water, and keep the humidity up.

Good luck with that little guy

[Discus]

My Drac. bella died a horrible death over the summer here in Africa. It limped through the last one, but didn't last through a second round. :/

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Hi Liana
I have great spot in the shade in the corner of my balcony where the sun doesn't reach the whole day. So that shouldn't be problem. I run my business form the house so I can pretty much really mist that little guy several times a day during summer, to keep it happy, moist and cool it down. Our summer temperatures are though over 80, a lot, some days, so I think I will watch weather now more often and when it will be real hell, I would rather keep it inside. October to April will be ok, winter time especially. Question, I am still planning to move it overnight inside, if weather outside is around 80, we keep it inside of the house around 70, it is only 10 degrees difference, but I think it will feel much more. Do you think I can leave it in the way of the AC, so it will have that air circulation overnight? Or it is just stupid idea and will harm this plant? I gave up on wine chiller, I do not want to make any 24/7 terrarium, I am trying to find the way how to grow it combo inside/outside even here in Florida, if possible. If now, I will rather sell it to someone who can be successful than to kill this gorgeous orchid:-(