Help! Masde Death

[theanalyst]

Hi everyone, I'm new to Orchid Board!

I've been struggling to keep a masdevallia alive, that I purchased back in March. Leaf dropping began shortly after, when adjusting to its new home, which I believe had too much light at first.

Here is the care info:
Located in a shaded area. Receives about 5 hours of light from a 60-watt CFL equivalent; the same lighting I used for my mounted gastrochilus (see image; the light fixture is above the elephant bush, next to gastro and aimed down and towards the masde). I have a tray with pebbles under the masde, used for humidity. I also mist the masde almost daily. I found if I give it a full watering (with or without fertilizer), it will drop leaves the next day. I have a fan on the floor aimed up to circulate the air about 5-7 hours a day. Generally, the house does not get above 76 degrees. I believe the pot it is in is a bit too large for it, however it was repotted due to my cat accidentally breaking the old pot and this was all I could find at the time. The medium is sphag.

The leaf drop has still be occurring on occasion and it is slow at producing new leaves. Today, I noticed one of the leaves looks diseased or burned. I do not believe it is some kind of insect, as it will not wipe off.

At this point, I do not know what else to do for the orchid. Can anyone help?







Thanks,
Sarah

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

1. What kind of Masdevallia is it?

Hybrid? Species?

Name please.

2. I don't mean to pry, but I think it's necessary to know this bit of information as well...

Where did you buy this Masdevallia from? Was it a recent import?

3. Pot is way too large for this plant as you've stated. I can guarantee the roots on this plant are not even close to being as large as that pot.

4. How often do you water and what are your watering habits like?

5. What kind of water are you using? Tap? RO/DI? Distilled?

6. Once we get the name of this plant we can help you better. Not all Masdevallias are cool growers, this is a myth that is not necessarily 100% founded in reality.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh yeah, misting isn't necessary. I don't mist mine.

If you insist on misting it, do it at night when the stomata (plant pores on the underside of the leaves) are open.

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[theanalyst]

The masde is a hybrid. I purchased it from Parkside Orchid (PA) and I believe it was grown there.

I do have a small plastic pot that would be the correct size. I've been hesitant about repotting it since it has been repotted recently (when the old pot broke). I didn't know if repotting again would cause more stress.

I water with filtered tap. My water supply is from the Finger Lakes and is relatively good quality. Same water I use for all of my other orchids (Phals, Zygo, Catt, Gastro, & Dendro)I mist it almost daily, when the top sphag feels dry. As stated before, whenever I would water it thoroughly, leaves would drop the following day.

Thanks for the help!

Sarah

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

1. What kind of Masdevallia is it?

Hybrid? Species?

Name please.

2. I don't mean to pry, but I think it's necessary to know this bit of information as well...

Where did you buy this Masdevallia from? Was it a recent import?

3. Pot is way too large for this plant as you've stated. I can guarantee the roots on this plant are not even close to being as large as that pot.

4. How often do you water and what are your watering habits like?

5. What kind of water are you using? Tap? RO/DI? Distilled?

6. Once we get the name of this plant we can help you better. Not all Masdevallias are cool growers, this is a myth that is not necessarily 100% founded in reality.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Do you happen to have a name to this hybrid? It would help a lot to know exactly what it is.

The reason I ask about whether or not it was an import was because imports can sometimes harbor diseases due to rough handling.

Most of the times, Masdevallia hybrids are usually not imported.

I'd repot anyways. I do that whenever I have a troubled Masdevallia, and it usually helps out to some degree. Don't be surprised if you may have to repot several times if the plant continues to struggle. It may help if when you repot, to place a bunch of packing peanuts (doesn't necessarily have to be packing peanuts per se, but something inert that doesn't absorb too much water is fine) directly underneath the plant itself, and spread the roots around the packing peanuts. Then you can cover the roots up with the moss, but don't pack it in tight.

Perhaps the moss is too tightly packed in as well, idk.

It may also help if you can get a hold of a size appropriate clear plastic pot or a modified clear plastic beverage bottle with adequate drainage holes. The clear plastic allows the roots to photosynthesize and it also allows you to see what's happening in the root zone.

I recommend watering Masdevallias thoroughly when the potting media dries to dampness.

[theanalyst]

No, I don't have the name of the hybrid. The tag simply said hybrid. Below is what the masde looked like when first purchased (of course, many look like this!).

I will try repotting it as you described. I'm not sure I have a clear pot, but I will see what I can find.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I think the temperature is fine for the Masdevallia you have, given the photo.

Without an exact name, I can't trace the heritage back to the species level and therefore could be a little off in judging the correct temperature range the plant needs.

But according to what I see, it has a lot of influence from the cool to intermediate growing species. I think one of the major contributing species in its "bloodline" may be Masd. rubiginosa, idk.

I think it's cultivation may be closer to that of Masd. rubiginosa, again, idk.


In regards to the pot, the clear plastic pot is a recommendation, and is not mandatory. However, do know that a clear plastic pot does help tremendously.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I also want to make it clear that your plant is definitely a hybrid and is not the species Masd. rubiginosa.

[theanalyst]

Thank! I lucked out and found 1 small plastic water bottle (I rarely buy bottled water), cut it down to size and repotted. I snipped a few holes in the bottle for drainage. Hopefully, this will help!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]