I have grown 4 P. Rydleyi near Tampa, Fl. They require lots of heat and do best when the temp is 90F and higher, even over 100. At 70 a...Read Morend 80 they are basically dormant. They seem to be quite sensitive to cold and I would avoid temps under 65F. Bright sunlight to moderate light is required. In summer heat I've seen growth of 3/4" a day. Light organic fertilizer helps, worm castings work well.
During the Fl rainy season, I try to let the plant get soaked to mimic the natural growing conditions.
They can be overwintered inside, given adequate light and kept dry to slightly damp.
The Rydleyi new growth seems to attract hungry bugs like palmetto bugs. Spraying may be necessary.
Typically they will have 2 new shields, then 2 new fronds. The spores are found on the bottom side of the spoon and develop late in the summer.
New import plants are typically severely cut back and very dry to keep the shipping weight down. Soak the mass well with water and weak fertilizer and place in a warm location with good sun. They regrow pretty quickly - in the summer.
A challenging plant to keep for several years. There is a massive Rydleyi at The Mary Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Fl. It's in a private area of the greenhouse, hanging at the top of the greenhouse.
This rare staghorn is widely scattered from Borneo, Sumatra, Malay Peninsula (Singapore - type locality) and Peninsular Thailand. It is f...Read Moreound in evergreen forest, very humid, as high epiphyte over 25 m above ground, exposed, growing with several specimens in one host tree but not in clusters.
However the habitat conversion and loss are the main threats, considering it is an endangered species. It has been said that the species has been extinct in some parts of its previous range.
The fertile frond, protects of the roots and rhizome of the plant and create an enclosed chamber within which is invariably colonised by ants, therefore the plant in cultivations rarely looks as beautiful as wild plants, perhaps due to the lack of certain nutrients of other benefits provided by the ants. It is also often found in association with an ant fern in genus Lecanopteris (Mermecophila).
I have grown 4 P. Rydleyi near Tampa, Fl. They require lots of heat and do best when the temp is 90F and higher, even over 100. At 70 a...Read More
This rare staghorn is widely scattered from Borneo, Sumatra, Malay Peninsula (Singapore - type locality) and Peninsular Thailand. It is f...Read More