xeropyticum
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/TerpsRock/xerophyticum3-11-05.jpg

Anybody grow these things? I have it next to my mini-catts under 6 Fl bulbs maybe 6" from them dead center. The mini-catts love it there.

It's one of the coolest slippers IMO. I've been wanting one quite a while and got it as a gift a few months back.

I think you can see I put it in my standard mini-catt med bark mix (plus some crushed oyster shell) and the same type pot I've successfully used for them. It's on the same watering/fert schedule as the mini-catts too. (I let it go dry) Sound right???? I'm hoping that new growth will put out roots given it's against the side of the pot...not squished, just next to it...?

I know every other slipper I own needs some moisture or the root tips die. Will this thing put out roots like a Catt too? (again...dry?) I can't translate it...but I've heard the name means "dry" too...so that should give me a clue!

There is a good culture page for this one on the Antec site. I got mine from Ed M. and ours are growing well, but not flowered to date. Marylyn LeDeux (I know I just butchered her name) had a monster flowering of hers and got a major AOS award for it.. Your culture setup sounds appropriate, so now you just have to wait.

I Have a friend who grows his in a bonsai pot and it does extremely well. I think because of the shallow pot it forces up the new growth sooner. I have to get him to offer me a pieace of it. He has had it about three years and has eleven growths and he started with a single . Hope this helps Ray

I grow mine in a fine bark mix in bulb pans and water every four days. Bright light as for minicatts. Both my plants bloomed last year and one is developing a spike right now.

Somebody send me one of these. I think they are just fantastic little plants. I hear they grow in clusters. Do they also propagate by stolon?

One of my favorites!

"The species name, meaning "lover of dryness," refers to this species' higher tolerance for low moisture situations."

Mine's a chunk of a 20+ growth plant that was grown in a shallow basket.

Just like my larger armeniacum, I can't wait until I can put this guy in a pan/basket... The recent pic in Orchids mag is very impressive...as RickL pointed out.

I'm still a bit concerned I'm growing mine a bit too dry...but at least I won't rot the roots! But, given it's name translation...how can I? :D

I grow Mexipedium rather dry, in rock wool mixed with marble, perlite, and some bark. Also in a low clay pot. Runners root up pretty quick. On the dry side seems always a good way to go for any slipper with succulent leaves, else you risk root rot.

Mine is spiking now too :clap: :clap:

Congrats, Rick! Lucky you!!
I read someone just got one in spike and got jealous, but I'm not even ready to try this one yet! :lol:

Rick got a piece of my plant a while back...and my plant is just about ready to open its first flower bud. :-dance:

I'm growing my Mexipedium following the rainfall information on the Antec website: I water the heck out of it...almost every day...March through October with heaviest watering peaking in June. October until March I allow it more time between waterings with January being the driest with about a week between waterings.

I grow it in very bright light, as for Cattleyas, about 2500 footcandles. Temps 60F to 85F. I've noticed that since I moved it to higher light levels, the stolens are shorter, and the plant seems to be satisfied staying inside a four inch pot.

Its growing in a mix of coconut husk chips, spongerock, and charcoal, with a top dressing of oyster shell.

Last year I asked Marilyn LeDoux how she grew and bloomed her plant so well. She smiled and said she just grows her's just like all her other Phrags. The plants I've seen grown and bloomed well were in very large bulb pans in a fine grade mix with moss growing on the media. The big bulb pan looked to be about 20 inches across...full of blooming growths.