Masdevallias with brown crispy leaf tips...

[greenpassion]

I recently bought 2 masdevallias from a grower on line. They are in 3" pots and have finished flowering. They look healthy other than a few leaves have brown crispy tips. I'd post a photo but I'm at work. I am totally new to masdevallias, and plan to grow these in S/H very soon. Any suggestions?

[Cym Ladye]

Probably grown too dry, too hot, too bright, too much fertilizer or all of the above. Are these masdies of the cooler or warmer growing type? It would be helpful for you to have that information, as not all masdevallias are happy under the same conditions.

CL

[greenpassion]

These masdies are the cooler growing type.

[keithrs]

What Cymladye said.... Low temps are not as important as high temps....By that I mean keep cool. High temps will make them stress. Try to keep under 78 and above 45. They tend to like cooler temps way more then warm temps. Fertilizer 1/4 strength once a week. Keep constantly moist not too soggy or too dry. Keep humidity up in the 70% range. Good air movement well help.

[Zoi2]

I have a couple of masdevallias I grow in S/H; infracta and infracta hybrids. I keep them around 75-80 degrees in the summer and 60-70 in the winter. My humidity is less than optimal at 40-60 percent throught the year. They seem to do fine, and bloom well.
Joann

[Cym Ladye]

I was given a group of awarded veitchianas and a few veitchiana hybrids. I pretty much ignored them, left them outside with the Cyms but a little shadier all year long and they thrived. Last summer I put them in an open greenhouse (no additional heat) and they were definitely not happy. They are now back outside for the foreseeable future!

CL

[greenpassion]

Well my temps here are in the 60-63 range at the moment, and the humidity is around 50%, which I know is not optimal. I went and bought a 'whole house' humidifier, and even with that, it's 50%. Don't know yet how they'll do....

[Lagoon]

Just something was not mentioned is water quality, they don't like high mineral content in their water, they get the blahs
If you're not already doing so, then perhaps using R.O.or distilled water may help you with you're problem

[ezil]

Gloria is right - all of them are salt sensitive. If you want, you can melt snow and/or use rainwater. If you find it hard to bring up humidity levels, consider growing them in a glass enclosure with a little fan providing air movement. Providing the cooler temps. should not be a problem this time of year.

[keithrs]

What those ladies said about water quality! I some times forget about water quality because I have a ro system. Rain is still the best.

Cold air will be harder to humidify.... Its not uncommon for my humidity to be down in the 20's in the summer with really little effect.