Experts Lead The Way!

[Paul]

High Aaron!

Neat frog!

Some possible issues with your plant choices ...
I rather suspect that both the begonia and Alocasia 'Black Velvet' will get too big for your viv [especially the Al.] Also, while I could easily be wrong, doesn't the Al require a dormancy period? If so you would have to remove it from the terr for parts of the year.

Some of the dracs also get rather tall considering the height you have available. How warm your viv will be could also be an issue. Many of the dracs are cool growers [which is why I don't grow them, though I think they are soooooooooo cool]

I would recommend considering some of the jewel orchids like Haemaria/Ludisia discolor http://www.orchidspecies.com/orphotdir/ludidiscolor.jpg

and

Macodes petola http://www.orchidspecies.com/orphotdir/macpetola.jpg

There are also some AV's w/ very dark leaves that might work for you.

Rob of Little Frog Farms will likely be able to give you additional ideas.

[AaronAcker]

Thanks for the replies. These are great informational threads, and the more I learn now, the less they suffer then. Thats unfortunate about the Dracula lol

I really like the leaves of the Haemaria/Ludisia discolor though w/ the orchids I'm looking more at the appearance of the flower than the leaves.

Another orchid that caught my eye was the Bulbophyllum masdevalliaceum it has some of the same "evil" characteristics that I'm looking for.


as for the size both the begoinia and Alocasia 'Black Velvet' do get big, but I have seen other dart frog vivs w/ them, and kept well.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Paul

Many of the dracs are cool growers [which is why I don't grow them, though I think they are soooooooooo cool]

Paul, I grow and bloom Dracula lotax (a rather small Drac) in a orchidarium in my basement. As I said above it flowers faithfully for me. You can do it too, if you choose. Of course the temps are too warm for flowering in summer, even in basement, but it grows fine and then when things cool down in winter it goes to town. Just a thought.