Masdevallia infracta - spikes going south!!

[Country Gramma]

I just got a very robust Masd. infracta from Ray (Hi Ray ).

It has many new spikes and some of them (most) are turning whitish and shrivleing (sp?). The plant was perfect when I got it so I know I'm doing something wrong.

I have it under T5 lights. Keeping moist - maybe too much?? Humidity anywhere from 35-50%. Need more info just ask.

Help!!!! What am I doing wrong????

Karen

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

1. If you have a pic that'd be great. There might be other things people can see other than the described issue at hand.

2. The humidity is too low. Masdevallias in general may be cooler growing than many of the epiphytes commonly grown, but they also come from moist cloud forest habitats.

In other words, humidity is consistently 60% or above.

Just so you know, this is a Masdevallia sp. that is a bit more temperature tolerant. So temperature is not the issue.

Unless there's a pic, it's hard to say whether or not it's over potted or what not.

The humidity is the first (hopefully the only) problem I see so far.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Here I'll post a few pics of Masdevallias in the wild.

From Ecuagenera:

http://www.ecuagenera.com/WebRoot/wh...0_exaltata.jpg

Look closely on the tree between the two men.

http://www.ecuagenera.com/WebRoot/wh...0020_Barry.jpg

On Flickr:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/3...15cb41.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/...e440bd120d.jpg

http://www.floraweb.de/florenschutz/...asdevallia.jpg

[Gin]

I have a large one , moist, pure water , weak fert. about half the strength or less , semi. shaded, don't cut the spikes until they are brown as they will re bloom on old spikes .
When they say heat tolerant they mean will take more heat, but not be the happiest with it . Note the spots on a couple of leaves . Hope this helps a little Gin

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Ugh...!

Of course, I take this for granted...sorry.

Yes, as Gin said. RO/DI, distilled, or rainwater only. 1/4 to 1/2 strength fertilizer only.

Water with high mineral content is never ever allowed in growing any Pleuros whatsoever. You run a very high risk of severely damaging them or in many of the more sensitive species (i.e. Lepanthes spp.), they will die (sometimes rather quickly).

Be careful about the moss going bad. And don't pack the moss tightly. It should be a little loose, but not too loose.

On another note. Heat tolerant means they can usually tolerate day temperatures in the low to mid 90's F with lots of air circulation (as in outside on your porch), and high humidity. Night temperatures should ideally drop significantly from day temperatures in such hot weather (like down to 60 F or 55 F). Terra-cotta pots help cool things down too.

[Country Gramma]

Thanks King and Gin,

I use only distilled water with no fert for this one yet. Just got it from Ray.
Planted in bark not broken down at all.
Heat 70-72.
The small spikes were fine when it arrived last week.

Thanks for the help and here are some pics, Karen

[Country Gramma]

Sorry,
More info...Heat in the day 70-72 at night 65-67.
I loved those pics are any of you???
Karen

[Becca]

I think if you just got it from Ray, the spikes could be blasting due to a difference in it's new growing conditions. Other then the low humidity, like others mentioned, I think you are doing fine with the care of it. Up the humidity and I'm sure it'll come around for you! Sometimes an orchid can be temperamental and could need some time to adjust....like a year or two!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Nope. Those pics of Masdies in the wild don't belong to me. They're someone else's.

One day when I make enough to venture out to these places, I'll go and take plenty of pics.

Ecuagenera sells tours. So does Orquideas del Valle. I might think about taking them. I think it's safer that way.

The Masdevallia is beautiful btw.

Yeah, I think it's just not humid enough, that's all.

[Country Gramma]

Thanks, I really appreciate the input. I'll see what I can do about the humidity but am not to confident I can do much. They are on humidity trays and up here in N.England our winters are very dry

Karen