Adam,

Is this a plastic pot? If so, it will keep your medium much too moist, but I am confused; regardless of the planting medium you use, if it's in plastic pot even with more drainage holes, is this still considered growing epiphytically?

Donna

Please do not worry Donna, the Substrate is very coarse, and the draining slits are even more than sufficient, and the only concern I now DO have is, that any direct sunbeam will reach the sides of this dark pot - it will heat up. Which phaenomenon can easily, but admittedly a bit unsightly, be avoided by an Aluminium foil attached to and covering the exposed side, which works astoundingly efficiently as a reflector/Isolator.

It should grow fine with your setup as long as you let it dry out between watering. As Hans pointed out, plastic pots do get very hot if placed in direct light. I'm not sure where you live, but here in Florida they can get too hot to hold in your hands. Most people here seem to use plastic pots, but I have used clay for several years and had success.

Thanks everyone. The pot is hanging under 70% shadecloth, so overheating shouldn't be a problem. I live in Perth, Western Australia. We have a simmilar climate to San Diego, California (on the same latitude as San Diego and Houston, Texas). The instructions on the pack said to pot in regular potting mix or plant directly into the soil. That didn't seem right for this species.

Hi Adam,

What a wonderful set up you have :-))) Considering you already grow a number of epiphytes, I don't think you'll have a problem at all growing papilio the way you are.

Fred

What a beautiful place!

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