What causes a masdie spike to yellow?

[Paul Mc]

I just recieved my first two masdies about 3 weeks ago, and can't believe I'm already having flask a question on this, lol...

When I got this masdie it was already in spike and about to bloom. Now, the spike has turned yellow and is wilting. The plant otherwise looks healthy though.

Any thoughts? Could it just be from the shipping, or a water/environmental issue?

It's a zeigler's love.

[Call_Me_Bob]

im not sure, but thats happened to me, twice on the same plant.

i was talking to a grower at the show and they suggested humidity. it would have blasted sooner if it was from shipping. how are the roots? if it hasnt had any temp swings since you got it, id bet humidity

GL

[silken]

My guess is humidity too. Soon after I got my first 2 masdies, several bloom spikes shot up and then turned brown. I was letting the moss get a bit too dry in between watering. Also some of the new grows were turning brown and dying. Since I keep it a little more evenly moist now that has never happened and I have my first bloom spike that seems healthy and growing fine now. I also try to keep the humidity at around 60% give or take.

[Paul Mc]

We actually just had a cold snap, with about 3 inches of snow. That might explain the temperature if that was it.

I have them potted in pourous clay pots, in an Oncodium/Seedling mix. Since the medium is fresh, i've watered it everyday and dumped the excess water out.

Humidity has been around 60% though it did drop with this last cold spell.

I will have to check the roots tomorrow.

[Gin]

I had that when they got to warm , later on I move them out of the green house into the a/c supposed to be warmth tolerant key word tolerant meaning they won't die but won't be very happy . They are on a wire rack over a half barrel humidity might be the problem with the blast plus the shipping probably did not help things ..

[RosieC]

I've had that on my first Masdie veitchianna spike. I think it got to warm in that case. The next two formed later in the year when it was cooler outside and had no problem. I'm really hoping the current two will make it

[Paul Mc]

Ok, so I've done some more research and decided to plant both my Masdie's in sphag. I was shocked when I pulled the Masdie out that had the yellowed flower though! It had a very minimal root system, and the roots that were remaining broke off easily leaving that thin string piece behind.

Then I remembered that it was like that when I repotted it after getting it. I guess perhaps it's root system is the issue for the abortion of my much hoped for flower.

Any thoughts at this point? Should I try a rooting hormone on the roots to stimulate growth or just leave it alone in the sphag for a while?

By the way, it was hard to get it to stand up straight in the sphag! That's how few roots there were.

[silken]

I would use rooting hormone if you have it. I see that mine produce new roots on a regular basis, but I did soak it in water with a few drops of K-L-N when I first got it and I wet the moss with the same water when I planted it. (I squeezed it out of course!). Good luck with it. It will flower again some day for you.

[Call_Me_Bob]

you repotted it when you got it? i think that its a combo of all those things!