My first 2 Masdie's just arrived! - Orchid Board

Paul Mc · #1 03-21-2011, 08:13 PM

YIPPEEE!!!! One is in bloom even! OMG, I can't tell you how excited I am, lol...

They are Ziegler's Love (Pixie Lavendar x Falcon Sunrise) and O'Brien's (Annette Hall x coccinea).

So of course I have a few questions being my first Masdie's.

1.) I bought these "Cool Pots" from the orchid gallery just to try out. They say that the pots will keep the roots cool by the condensation of the water through the funnel in the middle and the outside of the pot. Honestly, I think it's gimmicky and I only bought the pots because I loved the fact that they were white clay! I just realized an issue however. It has no drainage on the bottom, and three holes about 1 inch up from the bottom. From what I understand, water is just supposed to sit in the bottom, but isn't that bad for Masdie's? It would kill all of my other orchids!

2.) I've read two different statements about watering. One place says to let the roots just start to dry out a bit before watering them, and another few sources say that they actually prefer to be moist at all times due to their rooting/water retention methods. Which one is true? I guess that might tie back into question 1 about the "pool" of excess water on the bottom.

3.) Do Masdie spikes really get to be a foot or so long?!! I was shocked when I saw how long the one with the spike is! My first thought was that it was not getting enough light from the growers.

Sorry for so many questions - I am just excited as can be!

Daethen · #2 03-21-2011, 08:29 PM

Ok, you want answers, we want pictures!! I keep my masdies with a saucer of water under them all the time. Mine seem to like it. I have heard that Masdie spikes can get quite long so I don't think it is a light issue.

silken · #3 03-21-2011, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daethen

Ok, you want answers, we want pictures!! I keep my masdies with a saucer of water under them all the time. Mine seem to like it. I have heard that Masdie spikes can get quite long so I don't think it is a light issue.

Yes, pictures please

I just saw one in bloom at our orchid society meeting and it was about a foot tall. I have two masdies and I used to let them get dry for about a day at first and managed to make several new growths turn brown and die. So I always keep mine moist now (not sopping wet). Mine are in sphagnum moss so I don't have them sitting in water or they would be sopping wet. They like high humidity too. I have a small bloom spike on one

Can't wait to see yours!

Paul Mc · #4 03-21-2011, 09:41 PM

I will have to take a picture for you guys tomorrow of them!

I put mine in an Oncidium/Seedling mixture from RePotme.com. I read the thread recently about what people use for potting medium with their Masdie's and I thought it sounded fairly good in relation to what everyone was saying.

Paul Mc · #5 03-22-2011, 07:39 PM

Here's those pics I promised you guys!

The O'Brien is the one that is hopefully going to open in the next few days. Yippee!

Daethen · #6 03-22-2011, 07:52 PM

Awwwww. Congrats on that hopeful bloom!

Connie Star · #7 03-22-2011, 08:43 PM

Some masdie spikes are quite small, and others, like veitchiana, can get quite tall. I love them and have about 10. All doing well so far.

RosieC · #8 03-23-2011, 08:04 AM

Cool, congratuations, doesn't look like the spike will take much longer now.

My veitchianna spike got about that long last time (it's spiking again just now

)

Tindomul · #9 03-23-2011, 12:02 PM

Nice acquisitions! Those pots look like semi hydroponics pots. Except made of clay so they would keep the whole thing cooler. Since it has a water resevoir I would use really well draining media. The media should stay moist, not wet. Masdies don't like to be dry. But they hate being wet. Its a fine balance you have to learn to negotiate.

Paul Mc · #10 03-23-2011, 03:37 PM

Thank you everyone.

Tindomul, that's what I was reading. I was actually very concerned about the water resouvoir on the bottom. So every day to every other day, I check the medium to see if it's getting dry. If it is, then I pour a lot of water though it to dampen the new media then lean the pot on it's side to remove excess water. I hope that is sort of what you are talking about.

They are supposed to keep the roots cooler by water evaportion since the clay is extremely pourous. There is also a built in cone in the middle that allows condensation to occur in the middle as well.