Pings + U.reniformis

Fernando Rivadavia Lopes (ferndriv@usp.br)
Sat, 19 Aug 1995 19:13:38 -0500 (CDT)



> From Loyd.Wix@URCGB.SPRINT.COM
>
> Re Too hot for Pings? - Bob I doubt that 90 degrees F caused
> the demise of your P.moranensis - its been up to these
> temperature too in the UK and my plants are fine. They are
> none too happy about strong sunlight though.

I doubt it too. I grow my Mexican Pings (and all my other CPs) in
a greenhouse where it surely gets to 40C (and probably more) on hot,
sunny summer days.



> Re U.reniformis large form - Cliff your plant seems to be
> growing the reverse to mine! I keep mine in my conservatory
> where it currently gets well into the 30's degree C ( 90 -
> 100F ) and it is growing no problem. During winter the
> temperature is arround 10 degrees C (? degree F) though can
> on occaisions get slightly cooler. All leaves are lost by
> mid winter, and it is the flower spikes that make the first
> appearance in spring followed by the new leaves. It has been
> surgested to me that the plant needs a cool winter to
> initiate flowering, though it also seems to resent being
> repotted or other wise disturbed.

I also doubt that temperatures are very important for
U.reniformis. As I've said, I've seen this species from sea level up to
around 2700m (at 2 highlands where it often gets below 0C in the winter
and where it sometimes even snows). If it is important, you guys gotta
remember that the plants you have might be from different altitudes and
thus are clones adapted to different conditions. Then again, I often
wonder if we're not all growing the same clones of some species, like
with D.binata forms, D.adelae, Pings, etc. At least I know my
U.reniformis are from various different sites and seem to always like
high humidity, though I still haven't found the secret to get them to
flower. They very rarely do so in my greenhouse. In fact, I don't think
any have in the past 2 years! I agree with Cliff that they don't seem to
like small pots though.



Fernando Rivadavia
Sao Paulo, Brasil