mexipedium xerophyticum

[ezil]

Lordoftheswamps: You must know Fat Old Bald Guy (Chuck). If you want him to hold a plant for you, you should ask him when you next see him. He is a great mentor, so he can also evaluate your growing conditions with you.
Sbrpfio: this plant like high light, high humidity, high temps. and good ventilation. It is grown in a shallow bonsai pot. On the bottom I have a layer of leca pellets, and then the mix (which needs to be open, fast draining and on the alkaline side). It only gets rainwater or melted snow, and is fertilized @ 1/3str. every other week. The new shoots are very fragile (I must have knocked off at least 3 of them), so in the summer I have it in its own Nano terrarium, near a window. It often gets around 40deg. C for a few hours, and the plant seems to like it. Since it's also prone to rot, excellent ventilation is necessary, yet it also needs rel. high humidity. In the winter it's grown under lights in a bigger terrarium with the christensonia vietnamica. Not the easiest plant to grow. Maybe there are easier ways, I just haven't discovered them.

[theroc1217]

I will have to message Fat Old Bald Guy and littlefrog to see if they have any more. How high do you have the humidity? Like 50% high, or 90% high?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by theroc1217

I will have to message Fat Old Bald Guy and littlefrog to see if they have any more. How high do you have the humidity? Like 50% high, or 90% high?

I don't know what my humidity is. Its in an open topped tank with a water well in the bottom, so its probably slightly higher than ambient humidity in my apartment. This species comes from very dry areas of Mexico, but they area attached to rock faces that have a very slow, constant drip of water coming down from local "seeps." I don't think its particularly humidity sensitive.

[boltoncs]

I also posted a picture of my Mexipedium xerophyticum a week or so ago. I also grow mine in a bonsai pot with a bark mix. I am thinking that the next time I repot I will add some type of lime since I read it grows on limestone. what is the substance you have on the bottom of your pot? I just have mine under T5 florescent lights. I have not put it into a terrarium. Mine just finished blooming and it was the 3rd blooming since purchasing it at an orchid show about 5 or so years ago..also my most expensive plant. It is now sending out a lot of new growth. It goes outside with all my other paphs.