MASDEVALLIA problems. Help!

[Kyle]

I don't find caudata difficult, but it could just really like my conditions.

Another thing to consider is the source of plants. Lots of plants that were around in the 90 were wild collected. They were a lot more tempermental. Companies like Ecuagenera are producing tons of seed grown plants. They are a lot more adaptable. Datura was hard to grow, but these new seed grown ones are doing lots better. Same for norops. Impossible befroe, super easy now. If only they would grow caudiovula...

Its hard to recommend hybrids. So many were only produced once and are no longer availalbe. Its better to learn about the parents (cold or warm growing) and extrapolate how the offspring will do.

Kyle

[silken]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

It's one of those that seems to sulk unless everything is just right, but maybe I grow it too cool.

Ecuagenera is coming to Edmonton in Feb. and I was tempted to order one.

Sorry, didn't meant to hijack this thread!

[NeoNJ]

Getting back on subject ..........

What are the sunken, brown circular spots on the leaves that keep developing on the Masd. decumana ???

[ronaldhanko]

They are probably bacterial - there are some Masdevallias that seem very prone to them - I've found that keeping water off the leaves as much as possible and good air movement are the best solutions.

[NeoNJ]

It's funny, I just read that today ... but I never get water on my orchid leaves, so there has to be another "Disease" that has caused this .

[silken]

A picture would help to know for sure what spots you are referring to.

[Kyle]

Mesophyll cell colapse.

http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=130

It can also happen to cool growing species when kept warm. It could be a vector for pathogens. It can be prevented to some degree by nutrition.

Kyle

[NeoNJ]

Warm? What is really (REALLY) considered 'Warm'?
The 'space' these two Masd. decumana are growing is actually quite 'COOL'. So there must be another reason this is happening to these particular plants...
I've read they are challenging, but really, how COLD, how HUMID do they really have to be ?????
(COLD + HUMID somehow just don't go together in my head for some reason).

I also have (2) Masd. hybrids that are showing no sign of any problems. Perhaps I should just stay away from SPECIES, eh ?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Cool or cold because of the elevations they come from, depending on the species of Masdevallia.

Humid because of the clouds and mist that envelop the mid to high elevation forests they hail from. In a cloud forest, the mist is so thick, you'd be lucky if you could see 10' in front of your nose.

It's a different kind of humid than the humidity that occurs in places like Florida. Florida is humid because it's warm and is surrounded by large bodies of water. Whatever is left of the Florida everglades counts as a large body of water as well.

With Masdevallias, they literally are from the heavens. You can even half jokingly say they're "The Flowers of the Gods", or "One of the Many Children of the Heavens", or even "A Denizen of the Clouds". Many of them are shrouded by the clouds.

You know, it's not terribly humid outdoors here in SoCal, but when it doesn't shoot above 85 F or 90 F, Masdevallia caudata grew and bloomed just fine for me.

My recommendation is to:

1.) Pot up whatever remains of your Masd decumana in a small clay pot that is either 1 1/2" or 2" in diameter, instead of leaving it mounted.

You can find small pots in places like OSH.

2.) Not water a lot. Let the moss dry to the point where it is damp (not bone dry), before watering.

You already have a machine that provides humidity, it probably doesn't need much more water.

3.) Buy a different species of Masdevallia that doesn't give you headaches!

Try Masdevallia empusa, Masd patula, Masd caesia, Masd impostor, or Masd rolfeana, or Masd vidua or something.

I mean you already said you were able to grow Masd herradurae, so you've proven you CAN grow Masdevallia species! It's just this Masd decumana that may be a bit out of your league for now.

So I highly recommend taking a page out of your own playbook and buy Masdevallias that come from roughly around the same elevations as Masd herradurae and you're set. There're plenty of species of other Masdevallias that come from similar elevation ranges that Masdevallia herradurae comes from.

How cool you should grow a Masdevallia depends on the Masdevallia.

Since Masdevallia davisii and Masdevallia selenites come from roughly 3,000 m in the Andes, they cannot be grown any warmer than 75 F.

Since Masdevallia andreettaeana comes from an elevation range of 1,600 m to 2,100 m, it can grow warmer than Masd davisii, Masd coccinea, or Masd selenites can. I've had no problems with this species growing in temperatures in excess of 90 F!

Some species are definitely more sensitive than others, just pick sturdier ones. The only way you'll know which ones are hardier than others is through experience.

Let's be frank here...

Unless you live in a place in a place that snows, and you can provide an area that is frost free outdoors; or have a temperature controlled, refrigerated cold house; or even live very close to the coast; most people in the US cannot grow any of the Masdevallias that come from 2,400 m and up. It's just too cold up in these elevations, even in the tropics. Those are pretty much alpine zones.

I highly recommend looking up photos online of what a cloud forest really looks like. It's a different world!

Most people in the US can actually really grow Masdevallias that come from elevations from sea level on up to 2,200 m without the aid of a refrigeration unit.

[NeoNJ]

Hmmm.Ok. Well, no, I didn't really grow Masd. herradurae ---- I killed that one too, along with the other 3 Masdies ....

I guess I'm really not attracted, per se, to any of the SPECIES Masdevallia, except for Masd. decumana. I found the flowers on most of the other Masdevallia species not to my liking - with the exception of Masd. Veit.......(sp). and Masd. tovarensis.
Other than that, I can really say that I am more drawn to the HYBRID Masdevallia, so that is what I will focus on ....

It's funny, one OB member indicated it is impossible to grow Masdevallia in the Northeast ! LOL, maybe he's right !