This isn’t a Fokea but rather a Hydnophytum. While it’s not botanically classified as a caudiciform plant, it does have a swollen base, which gives it a similar appearance. The reason why they have a fat base is to house ants !! They are myrmecophyte plant meaning they have a symbiotic relation ship with ants. The reason your plant is in that specific potting media is due to its natural habitat. Hydnophytum species are epiphytic, meaning they grow on trees in the wild. To replicate this environment, the potting mix includes orchid bark and sphagnum moss, which ensure proper air circulation and moisture retention that mimic the airy, well-drained conditions of their native habitat. Pretty cool plant to have in your collection !!
jonwilliamsl
Your ant plant (as others have told you) is very cool and in a reasonable potting mix. That said, I have successfully grown rubiaceous ant plants (in the genuses *Myrmecodia, Myrmephytum* and *Hydnophytum*) in a wide variety of media, ranging from almost pure orchid bark to pure sphagnum to fairly standard potting media. Their only *requirement* for health is high humidity and very regular watering. They lose leaves at the drop of a hat (if they have pests, or the humidity is low, or they aren’t kept moist enough) but will grow them back.
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This isn’t a Fokea but rather a Hydnophytum. While it’s not botanically classified as a caudiciform plant, it does have a swollen base, which gives it a similar appearance. The reason why they have a fat base is to house ants !! They are myrmecophyte plant meaning they have a symbiotic relation ship with ants. The reason your plant is in that specific potting media is due to its natural habitat. Hydnophytum species are epiphytic, meaning they grow on trees in the wild. To replicate this environment, the potting mix includes orchid bark and sphagnum moss, which ensure proper air circulation and moisture retention that mimic the airy, well-drained conditions of their native habitat. Pretty cool plant to have in your collection !!
Your ant plant (as others have told you) is very cool and in a reasonable potting mix. That said, I have successfully grown rubiaceous ant plants (in the genuses *Myrmecodia, Myrmephytum* and *Hydnophytum*) in a wide variety of media, ranging from almost pure orchid bark to pure sphagnum to fairly standard potting media. Their only *requirement* for health is high humidity and very regular watering. They lose leaves at the drop of a hat (if they have pests, or the humidity is low, or they aren’t kept moist enough) but will grow them back.