Well I have a start of U. quelchii in hand. I was wondering if you can tell me how not to kill it!
My thoughts are to have in in a mix of sphaguun, pumice, and pine bark. I am sterilizing the whole lot in the microwave. Then I will rewet and rinse the mix with sterile rain water until I get a low PPM reading. I plan on making holes in the bottom (and sides too if you think this would help)of this little food container, line the bottom with some bark chips and larger bits of pumice, and sort of mound the rest so that there is plenty of air pockets. The whole will sit in tray water in the cool basement. I'll give it a misting early in the day.
My questions are how bright should the conditions be, and which do you feel is more critical: high humidity (how high) or good air circulation? My basement is always damp and cool. When people say dry dormancy, does this mean bone dry? The plant has no tubers, so my impression is to just keep it slightly less moist during dormancy, allowing the top of the sphagnum to dry slightly.
I am more nervous about this plant than any I have ever grown. It has been the holy grail for me for years. I will be devestated if I lose it!
If you had it and lost it, I would like to hear what you think went wrong in your culture of it.
My thoughts are to have in in a mix of sphaguun, pumice, and pine bark. I am sterilizing the whole lot in the microwave. Then I will rewet and rinse the mix with sterile rain water until I get a low PPM reading. I plan on making holes in the bottom (and sides too if you think this would help)of this little food container, line the bottom with some bark chips and larger bits of pumice, and sort of mound the rest so that there is plenty of air pockets. The whole will sit in tray water in the cool basement. I'll give it a misting early in the day.
My questions are how bright should the conditions be, and which do you feel is more critical: high humidity (how high) or good air circulation? My basement is always damp and cool. When people say dry dormancy, does this mean bone dry? The plant has no tubers, so my impression is to just keep it slightly less moist during dormancy, allowing the top of the sphagnum to dry slightly.
I am more nervous about this plant than any I have ever grown. It has been the holy grail for me for years. I will be devestated if I lose it!
If you had it and lost it, I would like to hear what you think went wrong in your culture of it.