Medinilla myriantha (teysmannii) - Malaysian Orchid, Grapes

Just googled this.....nice when in bloom. ;o)

Yes, it is gorgeous! Medinilla magnifica is even more spectacular. It's too difficult to grow outside of the hot tropics, though.

Here's my Malaysian orchid blooming:

http://www.growsonyou.com/Delonix1/photos/Medinilla

They are sold as a (rather lousy) house plant over here. Nice when you buy them, but never any good after that unless you give them lots of care.

Yes, it's useless here as a house plant, also. It likes the fresh outdoor air (it's never been an indoor plant for me). M. magnifica is absolutely useless as a house plant and outdoors. It needs too much heat and humidity all year to grow well and bloom in San Diego. I've seen gigantic ones growing in the Hilo Botanical Gardens on the island of Hawaii. The leaves were the size of my whole plant. lol!

Strange how some make good indoor plants, but others fail!

It has a lot to do with lighting and humidity. For example: Medinilla myriantha must have high filtered light with lots of humidity. M magnifica must have extremely high humidity with very high temps, like in a very hot, humid greenhouse.

M. magnifica can experience cold-damage by temps below 65ºF (18ºC)!

"M. magnifica can experience cold-damage by temps below 65ºF (18ºC)!"

Even I am tougher than that!

M. magnifica is extremely ultra tropical!!!

This is the reason why it doesn't grow here in San Diego outdoors. It will usually not even flower during our summer. (maybe this last very hot, humid summer it would have).