Cloud Forest care and New leaf love
Do you ever view your plant collection as one living entity? I definitely think of my separate grow tents as each being a whole organism not individual plants. When unzipping this mylar insulated mini ecosystem sometimes I’m greeted with a flush various new leaves. Right now is definitely one of those times. This is my cloud forest tent and it is where I grow highland species, things that like it real humid, and things that ended up here-like it-and I’m now afraid to move to the locale that is more appropriate in terms of how the plant would grow in the wild. I love looking at these new leaves and caring for them is something I take pride in. Below are some guidelines for your plant lovers that keep their head in the clouds.
Plants like:
Anthurium rugulosum
CLIDE Anthurium clidemiodes
Anthurium nervatum
Not a highlander but loves humidity: Anthurium dressleri
Anthurium ‘Voodoo Child’: regale x dressleri but really loves the night time cool down
Anything from above 800masl or 2400fasl
Cloud Forest specs:
80-90% humidity
90-250 foot candles (varies based on altitude in which the plant resides: higher up= more light) full spectrum LED grow light 18 hr/day
good air flow (2 6”fans on a 3o min on/off timer in a 10x5ft grow space. Both mounted up high angling down and near plants that are true epiphytes and well established.)
Water: RO water in humidifiers and all waterings
Temp: 65 night 85 day from May-November and 60 night and 75 day Novemberish-May.
pro tip: think like a forest diety in charge of creation or an botanist/architect designing a jungle. Make little niches, hide shade lovers under big canopy providing type plants that don’t mind light, put water lovers near a low point that pools with water sometimes, put things you are afraid are gonna die where you have to see them, don’t face all your pretty leaves in one direction, instead turn them towards the light no matter what, think about future growth as I find it best to leave plants in one general spot over time (some of these plants get truly massive y'all , I’m serious), diversify your collection so you have contrast and things that can assist one another with various growth habits: strap leaves hanging down provide great light dappling for a plant that may be getting too much wind or light, sturdy plants can let vines grow and support them, and you’ll definitely appreciate seeing the variety over time, and combining completely odd plants into a single pot for a unique mashup.
Gear list:
Benchmade pocket knife (small but sturdy and legal in all 50 states)